The family of the Honourable H. Lee Skipp (Aug. 16, 1926) of North Vancouver, B.C. announces his peaceful passing, at Lion’s Gate Hospital on Oct. 14, 2011 with his loving family by his side.
Lee is survived by Mary, his wife of 56 years; daughter Liz (Bronc) Twan and grandson Willee (Bobby Denner) Twan of Alkali Lake, B.C. and grandson Jesse Twan of Regina, Sask.; son Jim (Kirsten) Skipp of Vancouver and son Matt (Danielle) Skipp and granddaughters, Emma, Phoebe and Madison Skipp of Toronto; his sister, Elizabeth (Mel) Bishop, nephew Brock (Maria) Bishop and family of North Vancouver; three sister’s-in-law, Alex, Joan and June Latin of Williams Lake, B.C. and many dear nieces and nephews.
Lee was born and raised in Edmonton, Alta.; he left at age 15, travelling north to Fort Smith, N.W.T. where he worked on the freight boats that plied the McKenzie River delivering freight and supplies.
While he was living in Fort Smith, his family moved to Vancouver.
When Lee moved to Vancouver he found employment in the sheet metal industry, but soon decided that he should complete his education.
To do so he signed up for night courses to acquire a high school diploma, then he attended King Edward High School (Grade 13) prior to enrolling in UBC (Law) — where he graduated in 1951. He articled in Vancouver and was called to the bar in May, 1952.
Shortly thereafter, he went to work in Williams Lake, for the short-term (he thought) while he decided on his future career path.
Instead he met Mary Latin, whom he married in 1955 and for the next 22-plus years Lee continued to practice law in Williams Lake and enjoy life in the Cariboo community with his young family until, in Oct. 1973, he was appointed to the County Court of B.C. (Vancouver).
Lee worked in the downtown Vancouver Courthouse; first in the building that now houses the Vancouver Art Gallery, then in the new (Arthur Erickson-design) law courts. On June 30, 1989, Lee was further appointed to the Supreme Court of B.C.; he enjoyed work, staying on until age-mandatory retirement at 75 in 2001.
He was an avid reader and he subscribed to every TV channel offered, enjoying old Western movies, golf, sports and British comedies.
Lee was always game for vigorous debate on any subject (his daughter called it a good argument) as well as a good curling match or 18 holes of golf with Mary, his sons or grandsons and various friends.
Lee will also be remembered for his sharp wit, vast vocabulary, awesome story-telling and his wry sense of humour, all with him to his final day.
In the past 20-odd years he delighted in the company of his grandchildren; grandsons Willee (29) and Jesse (26) Twan whose visits he eagerly anticipated.
His beautiful little granddaughters from Toronto, Emma (9), Phoebe (8) and Madison (4) Skipp who he saw often, provided boundless joy in their grandpa’s last decade — he loved them all dearly.
A long-time member of Seymour Golf and Country Club; Lee was also a founding/life member of the Williams Lake Golf and Tennis Club; a Kiwanis member and past-president of the Williams Lake Kiwanis Club; two-time president/Cariboo Bar Association; former president of the Coast-Chilcotin Liberal Association and past Cariboo/B.C. director of the Cancer Society.
He also ran in a 1966 Cariboo by-election for the B.C. legislature against then B.C. Attorney-General Robert Bonner.
There will be no service at Lee’s request.
Instead the family is hosting a celebration of life at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4, 2011, at the Seymour Golf and Country Club, 3723 Mount Seymour Parkway, North Vancouver, B.C.
No flowers please. A donation in Lee’s name to the Lion’s Gate Hospital Foundation (or a charity of your choice) would be appreciated. Lions Gate Hospital Foundation — 231 East 15th Street, North Vancouver, BC V7L 2L7
*A note from the Skipp/Twan families to Williams Lake friends/family — as of this date we have not planned a Celebration of Life for Lee in Williams Lake; the family wishes to emphasize that a word or a note in lieu of travel to North Vancouver would be great.*