Colin MITCHELL

MITCHELL, Colin
83, of Coquitlam, British Columbia passed away unexpectedly after a short illness early on the morning of Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at the Eagle Ridge Hospital. Born in Regina in 1929 in the depths of the Great Depression, Colin was the middle son and only remaining survivor of five boys for Elsie and Jess Mitchell – Ellis, Fred, Colin, Robert and Gordon. The family farmed in Avonhurst, Saskatchewan before Colin met and married his lifelong sweetheart Bernice, whom he married in 1951 and later moved to Mallairdville, and later Coquitlam, where they lived for the balance of his life. Colin and Bernice are extremely close to their family, Coleen (Doug), Roland (Jan), Wes (Mary Lou) and Colette (Jay) as well as their grandchildren – Jesse, Kyle, Hilaire, Mitch, Sawyer, Ben, Stephen, Kevin and Caitlin and their great-grandchildren – Colton, Alyssa and Brock. Colin worked in construction as a heavy machine operator on some iconic landmarks including Simon Fraser University, Gaglardi Way, and the Mica Dam in Revelstoke and with the Department of Fisheries. He and his wife were lifelong volunteers – Optimists, as a softball coach, with the District of Coquitlam, Meals on Wheels and other charities and were honoured as Volunteers of the Year in 2001, which coincided with their 50th wedding anniversary. Colin enjoyed his garden – his little piece of paradise – where he grew amazing flowers including his landmark sweet peas and tomatoes – along with the many birds he fed while trying to keep the squirrels at bay. If you visited his garden in the summer, you always headed out with armloads of zucchini, lettuce and tomatoes. His grandchildren remember receiving mints from Grandpa's pockets that always had the trademark lint from his flannel shirt. He loved small babies and children and they were drawn to him. Colin liked nothing better than a game of crib or canasta, a great dinner with friends and family (when he would ask "I wonder what the poor people are eating?"), a good book, a long walk, a sunny day, time in his garden, watching hockey and football, and enjoying life. He was a loving man and had a huge appreciation for family. Whether you knew him as Colin, or Mitch or Red, you knew him as a loyal friend, devoted husband, amazing father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He never wanted for much – and gave of his whole heart. He will be deeply missed. In lieu of flowers the family suggest donations to the Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation, 475 Guildford Way, Port Moody, B.C. V3H 3W9. He never wanted to be a burden for others, and so it was his time to go.