Former lakecity alderman Hilary H. Place died March 3, 2004 at home.
Hilary was born March 13, 1920 in Huddersfield, England and was a member of a local pioneer family.
Hilary is survived by his loving wife of 62 years Rita (nee Hamilton) and their boys Adrian in Calgary, Alberta; and Martin and Carmen in North Vancouver.
He is also survived by his grandchildren, Raylene, Renelle, Rylea, Sara and Logan and great-grandchildren Reese and Skene.
He is predeceased by his granddaughter Cecilia.
Raised at the Dog Creek Ranch in the Cariboo, Hilary spent the first 40 years of his life as a rancher, cowboy, truck driver, and fur buyer.
He established the Dog Creek Stage and Ranchers’ Retail general store.
Hilary and Rita M. Hamilton were married in 1942 and moved their family to Williams Lake in 1960 where he established Place Music Store and was fundamental in bringing TV to town.
He served as School District 24 chairman; on the municipal council as Alderman; in many service clubs including-Rotary, Kiwanis and the Stampede Association, especially the Stampede Queens committee with Rita being the Stampede Queen of 1935.
In 1970 Hilary moved his family to Vancouver to pursue a career in real estate.
He developed many business ventures, mortgage companies and some of the first strata developments.
He was a lifelong musician playing fiddle, piano and sax with the Saddle-ites the family band at dances all over the Cariboo and in Vancouver.
Most recently he turned his talents to writing and published his first book Dog Creek a Place in the Cariboo in 1999. Book two is now at the publishers.
A lifelong hockey fan Hilary remembered all the great players from the Alkali Lake Championship Team of the 1930’s to the Canucks where he watched every game.
Services were held Wednesday, March 10 at 2:00 pm. at St. Mary’s Kerrisdale 2490 West 37th. Avenue Vancouver, B.C. V6M 1P5