Rawcliffe, Darrell Richard, passed away peacefully at the Ashcroft Hospital and Community Health Centre on Saturday, January 24, 2015 at the age of 71 years.
Darrell is survived by Alice, his loving wife of 26 years, as well as by his sisters-in-law Helen (Norman), and Geraldine (Bob) and numerous nieces and nephews all of Saskatchewan.
Darrell was a real lover of nature and sports. He was an avid fisherman who loved spending time outdoors. In his younger years he was quite the athlete. He was a competitive bull rider, qualified for the Olympic boxing team, and even played on the New York Rangers farm hockey team until a tragic accident left him with a broken back. He was told that he likely would never walk again, but always the fighter, Darrell proved them wrong and walked out of the hospital a year later on his own two feet. As he got older and his body started to feel the pain of his younger sporting adventures, he became an avid golfer. Golf was his last love in the sporting world.
Darrell worked for many years on the oil fields, first as an oil rig manager, and then driving trucks from Alberta to BC. He travelled extensively over the course of his career and spent time all over Europe and Africa.
He met his future wife Alice at a chance meeting in the Oasis Hotel in Cache Creek. At that time he resided in Alberta, and she lived in Langley. He was passing through for work, and she was in town visiting a friend. They had a casual drink and then parted ways, but she obviously stayed in his mind, because a year later to the day Darrell contacted her through her local friend. From then on in they were an inseparable team, and they soon relocated to Cache Creek to begin their life together.
Darrell was very active in the community, having served as a councilman in Cache Creek for six years, as well as acting as president of both the local Lions Club International and the Semlin Valley Golf Club. He remained involved in the community until just this last spring when he was forced to withdraw due to mounting health issues.
Darrell was a very kind person by nature, and over the years he made many dear friends in the area. He was a very articulate communicator, and was never hesitant to show his emotional side. He was a big man, with a big presence, and he will be missed by all who knew him.
In lieu of flowers donations in Darrell’s memory may be made to the BC Lung Association, or to the charity of your choice.
To leave an online condolence please visit www.tvfh.ca