February 15, 1923 - July 2, 2024
In loving memory ~
Gavin was born to George and Elspeth Paterson at Wester Frew in Kippen, Scotland. In 1927, at the age of four, he sailed on the SS Melita with his mother and 7 siblings to Canada via the St Lawrence Seaway and then boarded a train for Salmon Arm, B.C. His father had purchased a farm in Mt Ida farming district and thus began Gavin's life as a farmer, though he did pursue different careers on the Kettle Valley Railway, Summerland Experimental Farm, Armstrong School District and in Salmon Arm as an electrician, plumber and A/C specialist.
As a young teen he met his first love, Wilma Stewart and they were later married in 195O. Wilma had trained to be a RN in Kamloops and worked as a nurse in Salmon Arm. They raised their four children on the family farm located on 10th Ave SW in Salmon Arm. Many precious memories with the Stewart families (Wilma's siblings) were made there as they owned many of the neighboring farms. In 1991, after an extended illness, the family lost mom (Wilma) and a few years later the farm was sold to Rodger and Kathy DeMille.
Inventive and creative talents were inherited from his father and he put them to use building and fixing things throughout his life. He never owned a cellphone or computer, but was able to pursue and achieve a rich and full personal life the old fashion way - as an avid reader, through conversation and of course, old time dancing! He had met Wilma and later his second wife Elsie Tweedale, at these local dances. Elsie and Gavin married in 1995 and together they traveled to Scotland, England and Australia visiting relatives and friends. They continued to dance whenever they could, but sadly in 2015, Elsie passed.
As he aged, he found there were fewer men at the dances than women and he was in constant demand as a dancing partner. He was proud of walking 6 miles a day well into his 90's and at 100 was still walking at least a mile a day. He developed a close friendship with Bertha Norrish at Piccadilly Terrace and considered her his "walking buddy " as they got their exercise regularly on their long walks together.
Gavin is survived by 4 children: Ralph(Joan) of Morro Bay, California, Phil (Tammy) of Calgary, Ken (Tess) of Enderby, Elaine of Vernon, and 2 daughter in-laws (Donna, Salmon Arm and Lily, Calgary), 4 stepchildren: Lyle (Margaret) of Australia, Judy (Vic), Mary and Cathy (Kevin) of the Salmon Arm area and 3 grandchildren, Amanda, Jesse and Desirae Paterson.
He was preceded in death by wives Wilma (1991) and Elsie (2015) and stepson Ned as well as 8 siblings: John, William, Margaret (Newick), George Jr, James, Elizabeth (Hanly), Elsie (Olsen) and Andrew.
A Celebration of Gavin's 101 years of Life is planned at Bowers Funeral Service in Salmon Arm on Wednesday, August 28th at 11:30 am followed by a reception.
To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.bowersfuneralservice.com.
Service Details
11:30 AM