Tribute

Gone Fishin’

Jeffery (Jeff) Luke

Birth: Pioneer Gold Mines, BC – 12/22/1957

Journeyed On: Richmond, BC – 06/23/2023

Our beautiful warrior chose to complete his life’s journey Friday, June 23^rd, 2023 at 7:25 pm. He took his final breath at home, in the loving arms of his family. Predeceased by his father, William T. Lewis, November 11^th, 2009 and his mother Shirley I. Lewis June 8^th, 2016. Remaining behind to keep his story alive for future generations are his partner of 39 years Jill, his children, Joshua, Annwen, and cherished granddaughter Elise, whom he was very proud of and adored. His brother and best friend Daniel (Deborah), and his pup Teala. Jeff will also be alive in the hearts of his mother and father-in-law, Dan and Glenda Owen, his sisters-in-law, Kim (Rod, Andrew, Bree and River, Martin and Sydney), Danell (Kevin, Amber, Scott, Brady and Jordan), and many extended family members.

Jeff was a simple and pragmatic man, who loved his family and friends deeply. He was a quiet, private person, but he enjoyed meeting new people no matter their circumstances, telling stories and making others laugh. As a young boy Jeff spent many days and nights on horseback, riding the range behind his home or fishing in the lakes around Vernon, BC. He was a junior judo champion and was on the Silver Star Freestyle team in the 70’s. He had a short lived musical career at Vernon Senior Secondary school but was kicked out of band for putting potato chips in a fellow bandmate’s reed. He was active in our high school drama club and spent many afternoons snoozing during business classes. He was able to travel to Wales, the birthplace of his father’s family several times and enjoyed visiting the Baja and other parts of Mexico. He owned and rebuilt several Harleys and lived those years riding hard and living free.

In 2007, Jeff and bother Dan purchased 18.6 acres of raw land on Read Island, BC and turned it into a beautiful retreat and a base from which to fish the west coast. They spent many peaceful, happy and exciting mornings and afternoons trolling for salmon and jigging for ling cod. Jeff’s other favourite past time was to sit on the deck and chat with his many Read Island friends and play crib at night with Dan and Jill.

Jeff was a proud tradesman for 45 years and achieved his journeyman’s ticket in a variety of roofing and waterproofing applications. His work ethic, his integrity and his skill at his craft earned him several business awards during his career.

A few weeks before Jeff journeyed on, he expressed that he loved his life when he was a child and still loved his life, even though he was sick. He wanted to gather family and friends for a wake/party on Read Island and we fulfilled his wish on Saturday July 15^th, 2023. Thank you to his and our dear friends there for joining the family to celebrate his life in a community of respect and love.

Our daughter Annwen was there for Jeff each and every day, setting up and taking him to appointments, nursing him and spending precious time with him. He called her his “precious angel”. Although living, studying and raising his daughter in Stockholm, his son Joshua did his best to come home to visit with his dad and to call regularly to check in.

We wish to thank all of Jeff’s medical teams, home care nurses and community professionals who respectfully listened to and honoured Jeff’s wishes and decisions through his illnesses.

Tight lines Jeff.