Obituary of Gordon Frank Meek

Obituary GORDON FRANK MEEK Longtime Peace River Pioneer & Historian, Gordon Frank Meek passed away peacefully on January 1, 2023 at the age of 91. Gordon is predeceased by his parents, Bert and Charlotte, brothers, Edwin, Buddy, Tommy and Gene; Sisters Verna (Clarke), Iris (Donis); son Shayne and wife Bonnie, grandson Dustin. He will be greatly missed by wife Faye; children Blane (Maryann), Randy (Kathy), Brenda Gagnon (Leonard), and Brandy Beebe (Kevin); grandchildren Colin (Leslee), Chantel, Shelby (Jordan), Blake Gagnon (Jodi), Shayna Gagnon (Ross), Walker Gagnon, Riley Gagnon (Marie), Devon Beebe and Kaden Beebe, great Grandchildren Finley, Olivia, Adilynn, Bentley and Hazel; as well as siblings Mabel Chmielewski and Lyle Meek. Born in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan on July 31, 1931, Gordon was 3 months old when the family moved from Saskatchewan to the Peace Country, spending this first winter in Dawson Creek. In early spring 1932, the family moved to their homestead 10 miles west of Fort St John along the wagon road leading to Hudson’s Hope. Gordon lived and farmed this land his entire life, raising his family and spending many happy years with relatives and friends always welcomed at his and Faye’s supper table. He loved his horses and loved working the land as his forefathers did. Gordon loved music and was heard singing “The Ole Strawberry Roan” and many other songs as he was working and driving down the road with his kids and grandchildren. Gordon was fortunate enough in the early 1950’s to be hired to do the Hudson’s Hope mail run. He often spoke of different memories along the trail and the generosity of so many people that offered him a meal or a bed. Gordon and his father often worked together and on April 1, 1953, while logging with horses, Gordon lost his father to a tragic accident. As one of the older siblings, Gordon felt a great responsibility to his mother and family and always offered a helping hand. Gordon married Faye Donis on July 2, 1958. Together they built a home that was abundant with activity of rural life raising their own 5 children as well as cousins, neighbor children and relatives seated at their supper table. Many fond memories and antidotes of adventures can be reminisced about life on the Meek Ranch. Gordon was never afraid of a new challenge and in 1959 he opened the Charlie Lake Esso with brother Buddy. As a young man, he worked at Moore Equipment in Fort St. John, the International Harvester Dealership, in the early 60s. This mechanical experience as well as his upbringing provided him with the knowledge and talent to become the innovative person that he was - always able to fix, weld, drive, remake and repair. In 1968 Gordon became the Case Farm Equipment Dealer and was well known in the community for his abilities to get farmers’ equipment back to work. If he didn’t have a part, he would build it or take if off a new piece of equipment in inventory as he knew how important it was to “make hay while the sun shines”. His love of farming was evident always. Gordon had the first bus run along the Hudson’s Hope Highway bussing many students throughout the years to and from the school. His first bus was an old International Van in 1965. He had this run for over 40 years and adults today talk about when they rode Gordon’s bus. In the 1970’s, Gordon started his adventures in the oil patch, having little cats and eventually tow tractors, working all over Northern BC and into Alberta. Another love of Gordons was trapping and hunting, spending many days with his horses, packing, walking and riding at his trapline and hunting area. He was never afraid of hard work, never saying no to a job. He loved to work, and retirement wasn’t in his future. Gordon worked in the Patch well into his 80s. He was involved in many businesses and went through the ups and downs that occurred in the scurry of activity in northern BC during those times. Gordon loved to travel and travelled to many countries in the world, but his favorite was his many trips to Alaska with family and friends. There were some very grievous times also. Losing his first son, Shayne and his wife and unborn grandson was devastating to Gordon and Faye. Thank God for the great memories that such vibrant people leave us with enabling us all to step forward from the sadness. Gordon had many friends and involved himself in the community, sometimes politically, wrote many books, some controversial but always trying to better the “system”. He was an advocate to keep the freedoms and opportunities that he experienced in his lifetime available to the future generations. Gordon lived on his homestead right up to his passing. No service requested by Gordon This is a quote from one of his books. I remember working for Moore Equipment. I was a mechanic there and my foreman’s name was George Broadhurst. The shop had two large doors facing the street. Often on the hot days of summer, these doors were left open. Whenever there was a funeral in town the procession would pass in front of those open doors on the way to the cemetery. We would stop work and stand at attention while they passed. One day George said, “That sure was a good guy”, referring to the deceased. After him saying this several times I asked George, “Who was he?” George said, “Dammed if I know.” He said “When someone dies, he is always a good guy, even though while living he may have been a S.O.B” I’ve always remembered George’s words. How true they were. Reflecting on George’s remarks, I maintained that when I pass on, I do not want anyone getting up and saying what a good guy I had been. If I had been a good guy, I’m sure people would know. I’ve often wrote stories about people, but I’ve written very few lines about myself. If there is a story to be told or written about me perhaps someone else should write it. Expressions of sympathy may be made in memory of Gordon to the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation Services