Tribute

February 12, 1933 – August 20, 2015 at 82 years young, John passed away peacefully as a resident of Mariposa Gardens in Osoyoos.  Predeceased by his Father Alexander, Mother Mary (Nee Davidson), brothers Roderick and Harold as well as step daughter Yvonne Heneveld.

John is survived and will be sadly missed by his wife Wilma McGibbon of Osoyoos.  Son D’Arcy (Cathy) McGibbon of Oliver, grand-children Sara (Curtis) Larose and family including 2 great grandchildren of Penticton, Shannon of Victoria, Max and Lauren, of Oliver.  Daughter Mary (Sam) Morgan of Kelowna.  Son Andrew (and his dawg) McGibbon of Edson AB, grandsons Ross and Rod of Quesnel .  His sister Marjorie (Doug) Mulvey of Brooks AB.  Step daughter Annamarie (Jim) Soderberg and family and 3 step great grandchildren from Sagle ID and step son Bert Heneveld and son from Kamloops.

John was born in Penticton BC at the South Okanagan’s first general hospital.  Once ready to go home the trek was made back to the family farm at Road 20 in the Model A.  John always said that his start in life was backwards as the Model A had to be driven in reverse up the steep hill out of Penticton as the gas was gravity fed but the line on the tank was at the front.  So when the road was steep the A would quit.  Once back on the farm he was there to stay.

He mastered the craft of humor at a young age.  In or around 1946 the power and telephone lines were strung to road 18 where the line stopped at the Testalinda school and a phone was hung on a post for the general public in that area to use.   John rousted up his neighborhood pals, one of which was his partner in many crimes, Roy Smith, and they walked the couple miles to the telephone.  “HWY – 5” was dialed and Mr. Overton (we think) answered the telephone “Hello this is Overwaitea, how may we help you?”  John was at the control of the conversation and politely asked “Yes, do you have Robin Hood in a sack?” (meaning commercially ground flour in a bag) and Mr. Overton stated “Why yes we do”, with Roy egging him on in the background John quipped back “WELL YA BETTER LET THE POOR SUCKER OUT!”  A few days later the telephone was removed.

John was a farmer of the truest sense.  “Did you know I can grow grass on a bald man’s head?” he would say.   He was a master of doctoring up almost any animal with his trusty jack knife, a bottle of creolin and a bit of twine.   He was also a master of the art of chinwag.  There usually was a shined up spot on the hood of the old truck or tractor he was driving at the time where his elbow had polished up the stage of where the wisdom flowed, sometimes for hours and hours.

As per John’s instructions there will be no service.   In his memory please take a moment to go outside; look at the mountains, enjoy the sun and the breeze, pet a dog, share a story and a laugh with a friend or neighbour.

The family would like to thank on John’s behalf all the fantastic staff at the Oliver General Hospital, McKinney Place and Mariposa Gardens.  Your dedication and respect towards John was simply the best.  We’d also like to thank John Nunes of Nunes-Pottinger funeral home for making the final steps so easy to take.

John’s compassionate nature and lifetime work as a farmer/rancher fed many people.  Donations to your local foodbank or the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation would be appreciated.

Condolences and tributes may be directed to the family by visiting www.nunes-pottinger.com