Our beautiful Roger Earl Marriott died peacefully in the night in Salmon Arm on November 18th, 2013 at the age of 74 years old with his loving children, John, Dianne, and Scott, by his side. Roger joins his wonderful wife, Caroline, for one last glorious walk together hand-in-hand across the highlands of Scotland, the golf courses of the Shuswap, and the beaches of Mexico.
Roger was born in Creston, British Columbia in March 1939 and attended school in Dawson Creek and Kamloops before graduating from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver in 1963 with a degree in Math and Education. He moved to Salmon Arm in 1964 to teach math at the high school and it was while living there that same year that he met Caroline at a math conference in Vernon, sparking a beautiful love affair that lasted for the rest of their lives. Roger and Caroline were married in a lovely ceremony in Shotts, Scotland in 1966, and moved to the house of their dreams on 12th Avenue overlooking the Shuswap in 1968. Roger taught math at the Senior High in Salmon Arm for his entire 33-year career. His students were some of the smartest in the province, constantly achieving top marks in provincial math exams, and twice resulting in Salmon Arm students having the highest math averages in British Columbia. He was perhaps most proud of being co-coach of the Salmon Arm high school golf team that won the provincial championship in 1989.
Roger loved gardening, travelling, fishing in Scotch and Yard Creeks, playing bridge (Roger and Caroline won over 10 local bridge titles), and taking long walks with Caroline and their beloved doggies over the years, Jan, Fergie, Gyp, and Billie. He also had a fiery passion for watching and playing sports, and was out on the golf course or the tennis courts almost every day of the spring, summer, and fall. He won two club championships at the Salmon Arm Golf Course in the 1980s and won five prestigious Spalding Cup titles over his golf career. Roger could often be found at the Legion on Friday afternoons with his teaching buddies (and best pals) having a few beers and laying down a friendly wager or ten on whatever major sporting event (and the minor ones, too) that was on that weekend.
For fifteen consecutive years in the late 70s and 80s, he built a backyard skating rink at the 12th Avenue home that was used by neighbouring children far and wide. He also played a key role in developing a junior golf program in Salmon Arm that was one of the province’s best by the time he moved on to other pursuits, culminating in the Salmon Arm juniors winning the provincial title in 1987.
Roger never left his wife’s Caroline’s side during her long battle with Alzheimer’s, and he will always be remembered for his patience, his compassion, and his true endearing love for Caroline. Roger will be dearly missed by his friends in Salmon Arm and around the world, and by his children, John (Jenn), Dianne (Alan), and Scott; grandchildren, Kalvin, Aidan, Megan, Rhys, and Ty; brother Alan (Betty) in California, and sister Wendy (Ken) in Dawson Creek. A celebration of Roger’s life will be held at the Salmon Arm Golf Club at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 23rd. Donations in Roger’s memory may be made to the Good Samaritan Society, Hillside Village, 2891 15 Avenue NE, Salmon Arm, BC V1E 2B6. Arrangements were in the care of Bowers Funeral Home and Crematorium, Salmon Arm.
Online condolences may be sent through Roger’s obituary at www.bowersfuneralservice.com