BERT ARTHUR SAMMONS

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BERT ARTHUR SAMMONS It is with great sadness that the family of Bert Arthur Sammons announce his passing on May 17, 2002 in Victoria, BC, of congestive heart failure. Bert was born in Winnipeg on November 23, 1908 and resided there until 1999. He was the youngest of 12 children of Joseph and Mary Sammons (nee Birks), all predeceased, who had emigrated from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England and the only child born in Canada. He was predeceased by his wife Marion Louise Sammons (nee Hobbs of Toronto) in 1994 whom he married in 1945 and is survived by his four children, Bob (and wife Terri) of Victoria, Kathie of Calgary, Susan (and husband Peter) of Iqaluit, and Doug (and wife Marie) of France. He had several grandchildren, Kevin and Sarah, Scott and Joanne, Nanauq and Kukik, and Hugo and Leonie; and one great-grandson Ben. He is also survived by his nieces, Denise Hodgeson of Richmond, BC, Valerie Sammons of Seattle, WA, and Pat Stevens of Vancouver. Stewart Gunn and his wife Glad, and Burt Robinson and his wife Gerry were devoted lifelong friends he deeply cherished. Dad also valued the friendship and support of Patricia Nixon, mother to grand-children Scott and Joanne. In his youth, Dad had a passion for the outdoors and was an avid member of the Winnipeg Canoe Club, paddling many happy hours along rivers and lakes in the Winnipeg and Whiteshell areas. He also spent time in the Banff area in the early 1930s as a young man, enjoying cross-country skiing, horseback riding and hiking in the Canadian Rockies where some of his ashes will be shared with nature. During the Second World War he taught tactical bombing with the Royal Canadian Air Force at Allied Air Bases in Ontario and New Brunswick. He had wonderfully entertaining stories to tell about life in early Winnipeg. Dad had worked with Canadian Airways in the 1930s and was Purchasing Agent with the Winnipeg General Hospital until his retirement in 1974. He maintained his interest in aviation by becoming a member of the Western Canada Aviation Museum and volunteered as Membership Secretary for many years. Cremation occurred in Victoria on May 23 and his ashes will be interred alongside our mothers in Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens in Winnipeg in July of this year, accompanied with a service. His family and friends will remember a kind and gentle man with a wonderful and warm sense of humour. Our father graced the world for 93 years and will grace our lives forever. He is fondly remembered in all our hearts. If friends so desire, Dad would have appreciated a donation in his name to the Western Canada Aviation Museum in Winnipeg.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 02, 2002