Another ‘Old Timer’ gone.

Moose lived in YK from 1944-1956.

 

 

MANIFOLD _ Albert Hedley (Moose) passed away peacefully with his family surrounding him at MSA Hospital, Abbotsford, B.C. on December 28, 2006 at 87 years of age. He is predeceased by his loving first wife Wyn and his sister Louvain. He is lovingly remembered by his devoted second wife Shirley, his son Harold Manifold (Katherine), and daughters Patty Manifold and Margaret Manifold (Peter Fox) and grandchildren Hugh, Sarah and Clare Manifold, Holly, Lily and Davis Potozny, and Alexandra and Suzanne Fox. Moose is also deeply missed by his stepchildren Monty Baker (Jean), Laura MacKay (Jeff), Linda Baker and Dean Baker (Marianne) and their children Heather, Cory and Ryan Baker, Josh and Justin Close, Cody and Kyle MacKay, Andre Baker, and many loving family members and friends.

Albert was born in Nanaimo, B.C. to Charles Manifold and Ella Hedley on October 24, 1919. He spent his youth playing basketball and lacrosse and engaging in his true passion, fishing on the weekends. Some of his earliest memories were fishing with his uncle Harold Hackwood on the Nanaimo Lakes. After graduating from high school he taught in a one-room schoolhouse at Ness Lake, near Prince George. Even though he was a gifted student, the family could not afford to send him to university during the lean years of the 1930′s. Fortunately, his uncle Wesley Hedley saw the potential in Albert and offered to support him while he attended the University of Alberta where he obtained a B.A.Sc. in Mining Engineering.

During his university years, he worked in the Sudbury Mines, surveyed the Alaska Highway and enlisted in officer training in the Canadian Army. After U of A, he enrolled at UBC where he completed an M.A.Sc. in Geological Engineering. Following his degree, he staked claims in the barren lands from Hudsons Bay to Great Slave Lake. In spite of the work, there was always time to find a new lake where the fish were jumping. In 1951 he settled at Giant Yellowknife Gold Mines where he met and married Wyn Jackson in 1952. Following a move to Keno Hill in the Yukon in 1956, Harold arrived on the scene followed by Patty and finally Margaret in 1962.

While at Keno Hill, he met dear fishing buddy and lifelong friend Stan Cole. The family moved to Campbell River on Vancouver Island in 1962. Moose worked at Western Mines on Buttle Lake where he had plenty of time for fishing during the 12 consecutive day shifts at the mine. After a year, he got word that a new post secondary institution, BCIT, was opening and needing teaching staff. He accepted the position of Department Head of the Mining Department and the family settled in Burnaby in 1965.

While teaching at BCIT, he met an amateur prospector, Mike Warshawski. After many years searching the barren lands, and finding very little, he and Mike finally struck gold on Powder Mountain, just south of Whistler. This discovery led to the opening of Northair Mines that started production in 1976. In 1966 Stan Cole moved to Texada Island, an ideal fishing location where the family spent many memorable summer vacations. During this time Wyn and Moose also enjoyed extensive travel.

In 1979 he retired from BCIT to focus more time on fishing. His perfect fishing trip was sitting in a small rowboat at Marble Bay on Texada Island until the first stars came out, forever chasing the next big spring. In 1990, after a brave battle against cancer, his beloved wife Wyn passed away. He found love again in his long time friend, Shirley Baker. Moose and Shirley were married in 1991 and Monty, Laura, Linda and Dean and their families were welcomed into the family. Shirley became a willing fishing companion and more. Together, they also enjoyed many trips abroad.

He became a life member of the Association of Professional Engineers of BC and in 1994 he was presented with the inaugural BCIT distinguished service award. Over the years Moose traveled to Langara Island, the Queen Charlottes, Camano Sound and Hakai Pass in pursuit of the big ones. His most memorable day was when he had a 47 and 45 pounder in the boat by 9:30 in the morning. To the end, he maintained that a bad day fishing was better than a good day at work. In the later years, it became more difficult for him to sit in a little boat waiting for the big one to bite. That did not stop him from enjoying life to the end. He treasured his time with Shirley, his extended family and his many friends, including all those he met at Cedar Springs.

Please remember Moose as a contented fisherman and true gentleman. A celebration of Moose’s life will be held on Wednesday, January 3, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at Hendersons Funeral Home at 34537 Marshall Road, Abbotsford, BC. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or the United Way of the Lower Mainland