Tribute

Ray Hull was born and raised in Rolla, BC in the beautiful Peace River country.  His early days were spent on the farm but this changed with WW II and the building of the Alaska Highway from Dawson Creek north.  .  He was proud to have contributed to that mega-project and the opening up of the north. He was a very hard worker.  Later, when the family moved to Edmonton he worked in his father’s trucking company.  For most of his life, Ray worked in trucking and pipelining, eventually moving into senior purchasing positions in the oil & gas industry.  He worked on many significant refinery megaprojects.  

Ray also used to travel a lot for his work.   When his work allowed him to stay home with his growing family of 4 kids and his wife, Beryl, he frequently took on part-time jobs (moonlighting) to keep the family afloat and to give them some of the extra things in life.   Ray loved his family and they travelled with him across BC and Alberta as he followed the work.  Visiting or on vacation, he took the family on many road trips and always stopped along the way to show them points of interest and of course, take that picture!  He moved to Oliver in 1991 with his wife when they retired.

Ray was always been involved in community service.  The family moved to Cranbrook in the early 1960’s. While there, Ray got involved as one of the founding members of the Rod & Gun Club and he was also an auxiliary RCMP, all the while working full and part-time jobs. His older children will remember that he made a skating rink in the back yard for them each winter.  He took them ice-fishing, boating and taught them to love the outdoors. He was also very involved in organizing the Cranbrook branch of the Legion.  In Oliver, Ray has been a member of the Legion for many years. In Edmonton after that and as his son, David was growing up; both were members of the Navy League of Canada.

Ray was an avid hunter and could tell great stories of adventures in the back woods.  He loved to explore and new every nook and cranny, every back road wherever he lived or travelled.  Ray was a huge history buff, especially for Canadian history.  And he loved his politics!  

Ray had a mind like a steel trap and never forgot a face, a name or where he knew you from.  He knew so many people, a number of whom were famous!  People often share memories of how he was mischievous when he was young and how he has always been ‘so much fun’ when they all get together. 

Ray was well known as a natural born story-teller and writer.  As he grew older he spent many long hours writing and researching for his short stories. Our extended family and friends loved to receive them! He could quote poetry, too – some of the classics.  When his children were little he liked to sit them on his knee and read softly to them.  Later in life, he loved to listen to audiobooks of all sorts.

Raymond Stanley Hull has passed at 86 years of age.  He is predeceased by his wife, Beryl Marguerite (Loeppky) Hull, son, David Clayton Hull, parents and sister.  He is survived by daughters Linda Thoms (nee Hull then Howard) in Abbotsford; Susan (Hull) Shendaruk  in Osoyoos and, Melodie Hull  in Cranbrook, BC.  He leaves 4 grandchildren: Lindsay (Shendaruk) Vieira and Travis Shendaruk both of Osoyoos; Kristina Howard in Penticton, and Annamarie (Howard) Wallis  in Fort Nelson.   There are also 5 great grandchildren:  Marley Rae Wallis, Clayton and Aaron Howard, Seth and Dane Vieira. 

 A big man, a big personality; a great person to know.

Saddle up and ride, Ray. You are going home.

Services for Ray will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday December 19, 2014 at the Oliver Royal Canadian Legion Hall.  At his request, Ray‘s ashes will be scattered at the Oliver Cemetery where he joins his wife and son.   He will be sorely missed by all that love him.

In lieu of flowers, Ray asks that a contribution be made to the Melodie Hull Mental Health & Addictions Endowment Fund a registered charity with the Cranbrook Community Foundation www.cranbrookcf.ca  Box 242, Cranbrook, BC, Canada, V1C 4H8.

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

Arrangements entrusted to Nunes-Pottinger Funeral Service & Crematorium, Oliver & Osoyoos.