THE REVEREND GEORGE WILLIAM KEENLEYSIDE
April9, 1910 – August 3, 2002
George William Keenleyside, my father-in-law. He was a clergyman, businessman,
Scout and Cub leader, Fire Chief, Musician, Community Builder and Leader.
It was fifty years ago when I first met George Keenleyside, Chairman of School
Trustees, when I went to teach in Golden. I came to know him well after I
joined the family three years later.
George was born in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England. He attended school in Chilliwack
where the family settled on a farm after moving to Canada in 1913. He left
school at 14 against his parents’ wishes to become an apprentice journeyman
in a meat market owned by Burns and Company.
In 1930 George settled in Princeton to work in the meat market there. It was
in Princeton where he met and married Mary Howarth and where their three children,
Bob, Bill and Shirley were born. The family later moved to Greenwood and then
to Golden. For the next 16 years, George worked in the Burns Meat Market,
which he bought in 1944 and it became known as the Golden Meat Market.
Church and community were a big part of George’ life in Golden. He chaired
the church building committee, sang in the choir with his wife, Mary; taught
Sunday School, and filled in for the minister when he was away.
George had learned to play the clarinet and saxophone so it wasn’t long
before a band was formed – The Blue Serenaders. They played for fun
at local dances and community functions. After the Kitsilano Boy’s Band
preformed a concert in Golden, the young boys of Golden were interested in
forming a band of their own. They scrounged up a variety of instruments and
George taught the boys to play and led the band for 8 years entertaining at
various community events.
He was appointed Scout Master in 1947 to form a church sponsored Scout Troop
in Golden. His sons, Bob and Bill were charter members.
He helped organize the Golden Volunteer Fire Department. It was during the
war and government’s funds were obtained through the Air Raid Precautions
program. When the war ended it became the Golden Fire Department and George
was elected volunteer Fire Chief.
His other activities included being Chairman of the Civic Centre – a
community hall built after the war with volunteer labour and for the most
part, donated materials. That building is still standing and serving the community
today.
George served as chairman on the Golden Hospital Board and several other boards
and committees, including chairman of School Trustees.
In 1956 George’s life changed. He said, “I had an over whelming
compulsion to be a minister in the church.” With a Grade 9 education,
George registered at UBC as an adult student and after a very successful year,
entered Union College on UBC campus for three years. He graduated and was
ordained in the ministry of the United Church in 1960. His first placement
in a church was in Terrace where he served for 10 years and once again became
involved in the community.
He was chaplain for the local AA group, chairman of the committee of Terrace
Welfare Society which raised funds to build a receiving home for foster children,
worked for low rental housing for seniors and a rented building as a hostel
for single unemployed transient men, to name of few of his concerns.
George returned to scouting, leading the church sponsored Scout Troop and
Cub Pack. His grandson, Kent was in one of his Cub Packs and then in a Scout
Troop. He enjoyed taking the boys on camping and mountain climbing trips and
Jamborees. His most challenging and rewarding experience was to take a group
of Scouts on a five-day hike through the Telkwa Pass between Terrace and Telkwa
– forty miles of wilderness.
George’s wife, Mary, of thirty-six years, became ill with cancer and
passed away August 3, 1967.
In 1968 George and Vi Seaman were married and the family increased with two
new sisters, Leah and Gayle.
In 1970 he accepted an appointment as minister on the United Church mission
ship, the Thomas Crosby V that visited lighthouses along the coast and remote
logging operations and fishing villages between Alaska and Vancouver Island.
After two years on the Crosby, George and Vi retired to Cobble Hill and Duncan
and became involved in the life of the church there. Vi led the Junior Choir,
both sang in the Senior Choir and George became known as Retired Associate
Minister – making visitations with Vi and filling in for the minister
where needed. It was during this time that Vi became ill with leukemia and
passed away in June 1987.
In 1989, George moved to Central Park Lodge, now the Windermere Care Centre,
where he continued his ministry as a volunteer – leading devotions,
memorial services, and leading Hymn Sings with his clarinet or saxophone.
April 9, 2000 was a special day for Dad when he celebrated this 90th birthday
in Vancouver with 41 members of his family – children, grand children,
great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
George had quite a sense of humour. He loved to tell funny stories and was
a great at making puns. He really enjoyed the humour of Bob Hope, Jack Benny,
and Victor Borge. He enjoyed the sport of curling while living in Golden and
took up golf in Terrace.
Given what George has done, he’s lived the lives of several people.
I’d like to share a poem: -
The tide recedes and leaves bright sea shells on the sand,
The sun goes down but gentle warmth still lingers on the land,
The music stops but echoes on in sweet refrains,
For every joy that passes, something beautiful remains.
Dad has left a legacy of beautiful memories with his family and friends and in the lives of those he’s touched.
Prepared and presented August 9, 2002 by Luise Keenlyside at the Memorial Service at Chown Memorial and Chinese United Church in Vanouver, B.C and October 8, 2002 at Knox United Church in Terrace, B. C.