June 1, 1948 - December 31, 2023
Dad read the obituaries a lot, so in true Ray Dunlop fashion, he wrote his own obituary...
I was born in North Vancouver to Milton & Nina Dunlop (née Griswold). When I was 4, we moved to Yellow Point where Dad built his second house. I went to North Oyster Elementary and then Ladysmith High School graduating in 1965.
In my early days, I had 2 paper routes, picked potatoes, cut cascara bark, split cedar fence posts, collected bottles, picked pinecones...anything for a dollar. :) I then worked pretty steadily at the Tally Ho Travel Lodge between 15 and 17.
I joined the RCN in 1965 in their ROTP & was probably one of the laziest students at UBC one can imagine! I left the RCN in 1968 & from there came a couple of retries at UBC with no better results. I had a myriad of jobs in a multitude of restaurants, logging camps and eventually landed with the CIBC and then Revenue Canada.
On June 3, 1972, I married Becky and we had two boys, Darcy (Tara, Samuel, Jack, Scarlett & Matthew) & Derek (Lisa, Emily & Alexander.)
I operated my own Tax, Accounting, and Investment Real Estate Business for over 20 years. In 1980, I made my first sojourn to Chile which became my second home in 1997 where I switched careers to become a junk man, recycling copper. Apropos :):)
My two boys have been terrific over the years. Both were excellent students & athletes allowing their Dad to re-live his mediocre youth by playing baseball, soccer & volleyball at the highest levels. They both played baseball for Canada many times & both ended playing baseball at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix.
My life in Chile was a true adventure & I loved every minute. I made many wonderful friends in Chile. Gerardo and Family, Luz Maria and family, Mercedes, Juan Carlos & family & God Daughter Almendra, Olivia, Nancy, Joaquin, Jano, Nicolas, Pedro Labra, Ken Lindemere, David Alfaro, Bernie Robinson, Oscar, Kyoko and kids, Cesar Centella, Mauro, & all the Promesa crew.
Lots of phenomenal fishing thanks to Reginaldo Huaiquifil, Nidia and God Son Daniel Arturo & lots of great visits from old friends & schoolmates over the years.
Over my life I had the privilege of having many great friends. I want to thank some now & I know I will forget many. My apologies.
Thanks to Bert Morgan, Emil de Koninck, Frank Rice, Minette, Donna and Dave, Mariette and Doug, Dave and Barb, Anita and Ron, Arvid and Carol, Robin and Margaret, Bruce, Rosa, Harry, Pat and Frank, Sheila, Neil and Marie, Shirley and Ken, Dawn and Denis, Ian and Carol, Gerry and Lee, John and the entire 1965 Graduating Class at Ricky's :)
As you all know, I liked a good joke so those of you that have heard the joke will get the following...remember most of us just mosey our way through life "smuggling wheelbarrows"
HAVE A GREAT LIFE......I DID......THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!
Dad passed away suddenly, but peacefully while visiting his family in Scottsdale, AZ. He will be greatly missed, and his legacy will be remembered through the lives he touched and the knowledge he shared.
There will not a formal service for Dad, as per his request. But please, when you hear a funny joke, see a beautiful flower, or go fishing, please think of "Don Rey" or "El Jefe" & the joy he took in the small things in life.
Dad, wherever you are, you are gone but you will never be forgotten.