John SMYLY

SMYLY John Hamilton, born on December 30, 1924, died on August 19, 2002 at the home he built with his own hands, on Salt Spring Island. Master craftsman, carver, writer, artist, photographer, toy collector, John was also a model husband to his much loved and loving wife, Carolyn (nee Case) and a model father to first-born, Kathleen Charlotte (who predeceased him in 1982) and adored "Puppa" to second daughter, Jennifer Smyly Nunn; beloved "John-Boy" to son-in-law, David Barry Nunn, and all-too-recent grandfather to newborn, Grayson Hamilton Nunn. John began model-making as a hobby in his early teens and developed it into a fine art all the rest of his life. He worked in shipyards and the aircraft industry duringthe War, and went on to wood-working in various factories around Victoria. His model-making skills, coupled with his fascination with First Nations art and architecture, led him to employment at the Provincial Museum (R.B.C.M.) from 1965 to 1988. Exposure to asbestos over the years resulted in cancer taking his life in his 78th year. A kind, quiet, gentle man, who always had time to smile at a child or to say "hello" to a dog, he had no enemies, owed no debts of any kind, forgave all trespasses and was never heard to say an unkind word about anyone. He spent his life making beautiful things with loving hands, and grieved over the destruction of the forests, and the constant "improvements" to God's creation. He leaves many to mourn him besides his family; friends, colleagues, his cousins Gillean, Stephen and Graeme Kilshaw, in-laws, nephews and nieces throughout B.C., grandnephews and nieces and one very dear god-daughter, Diana Jolly. A Celebration of his life will be made at St. Peter's Anglican Church, 3939 St. Peter's Road, on Monday, August 26th, at 1:00 p.m. "Empty saddles on the old corral"