April 3, 1939 - February 1, 2020
It's with great sadness that we announce the passing of Les McEwen. On February 1st 2020, Les passed away peacefully with family by his side. He was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, and will be deeply missed.
Les was born April 3, 1939 in Falun, AB to Cecil and Alice McEwen. In 1946, the family moved to Lillooet where Les grew up with his eight siblings. He would later marry his wife, Jo-Anne, in 1957 and they would start their family.
Les began his early working years in Kitimat tending to the steam engines on the Delta King paddle wheeler, a job he spoke fondly of. He followed that with various jobs, which later led him to working with the BC Forest Service as a Road Engineer for 35 years. Les worked in various communities throughout BC before returning back to Lillooet in 1988. There he continued his work until he retired in 1999.
In his 21 years of retirement, Les enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping with his growing family and friends. He also had 44 years of fond memories travelling south every winter to Arizona and Mexico, where he and Jo-Anne met many new friends.
Les leaves behind his loving wife Jo-Anne, his daughter Teresa and son Tony (Cheryl), three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, his sisters Hope (Stan) and Jody, and brothers Stan (Shirley) and Dale (Shelley), as well as a large extended family.
The family wishes to thank the staff at the Lillooet & District Hospital and Royal Inland Hospital for their care and kindness shown to both Les and his family. As per Les' wishes, there will be no service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Lillooet & District Hospital Foundation or The Kidney Foundation of Canada (BC Branch).
Cheers! Until we meet around the firepit again!