Howard Prosser passed away at home Jan. 16, 2007 following a 26-month battle with cancer. He was 72.
Born in Quesnel on March 10, 1934, Howard spent the first years of his life at Nazko and then a small ranch at Mountain Creek, near Baker Creek. He learned to hunt, trap, ride and do ranch chores at an early age.
School wasn’t all that convenient, but he managed to complete Grade 7 staying with family and friends and a lot of the time with his maternal grandmother. At 16 he quit school.
He went to work falling, and working in bush mills around Quesnel.
In 1955 he married Pat Sankey. They moved to Macalister to work at Netherlands Overseas Mills. Their two daughters, Lorry and Kathie were born while they lived there.
When Netherlands moved the mill to Likely, the family moved to Williams Lake where Howard took a job at Merrill Wagner, later Weldwood.
He and Pat divorced in 1963.
He and Janet Kelt married in 1966. In 1974 they bought a sports shop in the mall by the Post Office, and he called it Howie’s Sporthaus. He had the store for 10 years, and said that Howie was “the best guy he ever worked for.”
Next he bought a trapline west of the Fraser River, near Mackin Creek. With friends he built a small cabin and Monday to Friday, he and Mike, his golden retriever went trapping.
He competed in Obedience with Mike and for several years taught dog obedience for the Cariboo Kennel Club. He loved the Chilcotin and spent many happy times camping, fishing hunting, canoeing, hiking, cross country skiing, and riding in the mountains.
The opportunity to live in the Chilcotin came in 1988 when he and Janet moved to Four Mile Ranch owned by Wanda Dorsey and Roger Williams at Anahim Lake. Howie helped out on the ranch and trail rides, ran a trap line, and guided for Dave Altherr of Lehman Creek Outfitters.
In 1999 they decided to retire on their 40 acres at Riske Creek. They had a new home built, moved the horses and became a part of “Jasperville.” Howie enjoyed helping with the branding and riding with the local cowboys.
In 2005, they moved to Williams Lake.
His sense of humour saw him through the rough times, he never stopped telling his stories and jokes, enjoying visiting with family and friends.
Over the years, he and Janet did a lot of travelling. They visited and made friends in Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Scotland, Turkey, and Mexico; the last in 2005, where he took a break from Chemo and went sailing in the Greek Islands.
He was predeceased by his dad, Ski Posser, and his mother Beatrice and brother Harold.
He leaves to mourn, wife Janet, sister Joyce Lillenweiss of Vernon, daughters Lorry (Nino) Fabbro, Kathie McCarville, grandchildren, Jeremy, Matthew, Levi and Trista, all of Prince George and many nieces and nephews, and lots of wonderful friends.
A celebration of life was held, Jan. 21, 2007.
He touched many lives and will be sadly missed.
“If there is another world he lives in bliss. If there is none, he made the best of this.” -- Robert Burns