October 15, 1938 - February 3, 2022
In loving memory ~
With heavy hearts we announce the passing of William Trevor Gill in Queen Victoria Hospital, Revelstoke, B.C. on February 3, 2022. He was known as "Bill" to his friends and "Trevor" to his immediate family.
Bill is survived by his loving wife Joy; three sisters: Audrey Hamilton of Parksville, B.C., Elaine Harkin (Doug) of Salmon Arm, B.C. and Nancy Gagnon of Qualicum Beach, B.C., niece Nancy Hamilton and nephews Neil Hamilton, Rob Harkin (Caroline), randy Harkin, Mike Gagnon (Serena) and Rick Gagnon (Tanya); sister-in-law Muriel McNaughton (Barry) of Oakville, Manitoba, their daughter Kim (Chad) Sheppard (Taylor and Teagan) of Stonewall, Manitoba and nephews, Dwayne and Allen Dickey.
Bill was born in Dauphin, Manitoba on October 15, 1938, the first child of William Arthur and Irene Hazel Gill. Due to his father's transfers with the RCMP, he attended several different schools in Manitoba and Ontario. Before completing high school in St. James Collegiate he chose to attend a Winnipeg Tech School to become an electrician. He was proud to join the IBEW and worked in various locations in Manitoba and B.C. He was predeceased by his parents, two brothers-in-law, Joy's parents and her brother and sister-in-law Alvyn and Estella Dickey as well as a dear nephew, Scott McNaughton.
Bill and Joy started their life journey together on October 6, 1962, when they were married in Carman, Manitoba. Following their honeymoon to Niagara Falls and New York City, they moved to Kelowna, B.C., his family having moved there from Manitoba in 1958. In 1963 they settled in Revelstoke where he was employed by Cal Barker Plumbing & Heating. In 1969 he became a Power Line Technician with B.C. Hydro, retiring in 1997. After retirement he became a member of the B.C. Hydro Power Pioneers.
Bill loved the outdoors: hunting, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking and geocaching. In 1975 he took golf lessons and joined the Revelstoke Golf Club, but found golf was not for him - he'd rather be fishing!
Throughout his life, Bill spent countless hours volunteering or helping others. On moving to Revelstoke he and Joy joined the Kinsmen and Kinette Club, serving as President in 1969, and once managed the Civic Centre for the Club. Years later he joined the K40 Club and enjoyed the camaraderie. He belonged to the local Search and Rescue team and became Manager when George Onischuk retired. In 1969 he won a Skidoo and immediately joined the Revelstoke Snowmobile Club, served as President and was very involved in building the Club's Cabin on Boulder Mountain. When he gave up sledding, he bought a quad, joined the ATV Club and never gave up riding or maintaining trails. Being an avid boater, he joined the Shuswap Power Squadron in 1981, became a volunteer instructor for recreational boaters and was awarded seven Merit Mark Awards in recognition of outstanding service. In 1999 he was overwhelmed when he was chosen "Citizen of the Year" by the Revelstoke Lions Club.
Bill was a proud and dedicated Member of Kootenay Masonic Lodge #15 (Enderby #40) for 57 years. He was honoured with a Life Membership in 2020, having served as a long-time Secretary/Treasurer and Manager of the Masonic Building. He was also very proud to wear a Fez when he became a Gizeh Shriner in 1973.
Bill and Joy loved to travel - first with a tent, a van that Bill converted for camping and then a truck and camper. Going further afield, they enjoyed Newfoundland, Disneyland, San Francisco, Alaska, Hawaii, Fiji, China, Italy, and many trips to Mexico with their close friends Marlene and John Scarcelli. The best of all was camping at Hall's Landing on the Arrow Lakes and in 1991 they built their cozy cabin - oh to sit around the campfire for Happy Hour!
Many thanks to Dr. Cam Molder, the nurses at Queen Victoria Hospital, Dr. Allison Rankin and the great staff at the Vernon Jubilee Cancer Centre, as well as Chrissie and Gary Sulz (Brandon Bowers Funeral Service) for their guidance and support.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Revelstoke Community Foundation, P.O. Box 189, Revelstoke, B.C. V0E 2S0, or to the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation for the Cancer Centre, 2101 32nd Street, Vernon, B.C. V1T 5L2.
Messages of sympathy may be sent to Bill's family by viewing his obituary at: www.brandonbowersfuneralhome.com
Cremation arrangements are in the care of Brandon Bowers Funeral Home, Revelstoke.
Brandon Bowers Funeral Home