CHRISTOPHER JAMES BARCLAY

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CHRISTOPHER JAMES BARCLAY September 14, 1995 - March 27, 2016 March 27, 2016, Easter Sunday, our lives changed forever. Christopher James Barclay, age 20 years passed away. Our beautiful, adventurous, sensitive, caring and insanely hilarious son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend left our world to ride his mountain in the sky. He is landing each amazing trick. Christopher was born September 14, 1995 in Sioux Lookout, Ontario. He was truly our Gerber baby. He had those cheeks and white blond hair that he didn't seem to lose. From a young age he had the ability to charm his way into a second dessert, dessert before supper, and just about anything. His sense of humour was evident early in his life. He loved to ham it up for the camera and joke around with his brothers and friends. Those piercing eyes and sly grin would accompany a dry joke, line or comment that would leave you in stitches. The four Barclay boys had the best relationship. Don't get us wrong, we did break up fights and had to attend to a few injuries but when push came to shove they had each other's back. The jokes they would play on each other would leave us in stitches. He would serenade us in the morning with the current song that was his favourite. He would sing and play it endlessly until he found a new one. For us non-morning people this would get a bit annoying but we couldn't help laughing. He could turn a sad song into the most amazing, funny song to the point you would forget the real meaning. He followed any joke or sarcastic comment with a "funny??!!" or a "heh??" and then those sparkly eyes and smirk would appear. As with any adolescent he struggled at times and especially the last few years. But in the last nine months he was able to grow and pull it together. This summer Dean drove Chris to Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta. He was working at the same resort as his dad. He actually found the staff pictures of the time Dean was there. They were both the same age when they worked there. He called home and said he felt so at home here. It was heaven. "One of the nicest and happiest places on earth." His family would agree. We have spent so much time there in our lives and have nothing but awesome memories. When the season ended he moved to Big White Mountain in British Columbia. He was loving his life there. His dad went to go visit him in February and saw how amazing this was for him. Chris talked about how he loved spending the time with his dad and treasured it. Christopher was well liked at Big White. He had many friends. His boss said that he touched her heart when he got there until she last saw him. He touched so many hearts. He never complained, always helped his co-workers out and made everyone feel special. She said everyday Chris would come to work she would ask him how he was doing. His response was "best day of my life". We can hear him say that. When he was having a good day or was in a good mood that's what he would say. His colleagues and friends at Big White have had their own memorial service for him. They met at the top of a mountain where they sat, shared stories about him, laughed and cried. They sang his favourite song, "Shooting Star by Bad Company" and hung his chef's hat on a tree that overlooks the whole valley at the top of the mountain. They've retired his locker and the staff are wearing commemorative name badges that say "CB" on them. They will be mailing the family badges as well. This provides us with comfort knowing that he touched so many lives. The week prior to his passing he contacted each of us and had a conversation. He was saying how much he loved it there, how much he missed his family and how he couldn't wait to see his mom, Tim and Andrew in a few weeks in Banff. He said he was having the "best winter of his life". We are all grateful he had such a great winter and was happy. He leaves to mourn his family, who is already missing him so much. His father and mother, Dean Barclay and Ramona Sawatzky; brothers, Zachary, Timothy and Andrew; "sister" Page Quevillon; grandparents, Peter and Hilde Sawatzky and Peter and Rita Barclay; aunts Melanie Barclay, Nancy Othmer, Dayna Barclay, Cheryl Sawatzky, and Theresa Lao-Sawatzky; uncles, Michael Barclay, Shane Barclay, Gilbert Sawatzky, Vico Sawatzky; cousins MacKenzie and Madison Barclay, Sawyer and Mason Barclay, Caitlyn and Kacie Sawatzky, and Sara, Madeleine, Joshua and Isaac Sawatzky. He had an extended family that could fill a social hall and many friends that were so special to him. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 5, 2016, 1:00 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Centre in Kenora, ON. Reception to follow at the Ukrainian Hall. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Mount Evergreen Ski Hill, Box 45, Kenora, ON P9N 3X1 or Kids Help Phone, kidshelpphone.ca "Peace out one love bars09" you will be missed by all. Online condolences may be made at www.brownfuneralhomekenora.com BROWN FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTRE ENTRUSTED WITH ARRANGEMENTS.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 05, 2016