Raymond W FLAVELLE
September 8, 1952 – May 11, 2025
Ray was born in Fort Saint John BC and grew up in Dawson Creek.
Ray worked in the automotive industry all his life. He started work at Taylor Pearson and Carson which later was purchased by Acklands. Ray then worked for a time at car dealership, and the moved on to work for the Province of BC in Pouce Coupe at the Ministry of Highways yards. From there he was successful in his bid to move to Tete Jaune Cache as stockman. While he was at Tete Jaune the province developed a red seal course for Industrial Warehousing, Ray wrote the exam and qualified. While Ray was working at Tete Jaune Cache he became the union steward for the site, and became more involved in the union at one point serving on the Provincial bargaining committee for BCGEU. In 1986 the province privatized road maintenance and Ray bought into the new company. At the end of the three year cycle, the company lost the contract in the Robson Valley and Ray moved on and started his own business as a Bumper to Bumper store, which he later sold to Lordco.
While he still owned the parts store Ray decided to build his dream car – a Shelby Cobra. Ray worked on the car with his son Chris for two years until it was finished and painted. It was his pride and joy. He wasn’t too hard on the car as it still has the original set of tires.
After he sold the business to Lordco, Ray decided he wanted to purchase a laser cutter and engraver, and he started learning how to operate the computer drawing program to produce wooden snowflakes. In the beginning he purchased designs and later discovered it was easier to create his own. Ray also discovered he was limited only by his imagination as to what the laser would do and what he could create, and he was often challenged by customer requests to produce an item and since he loved puzzles he would often rise to the challenge.
When he first moved to Valemount, Ray joined the Lions Club and convinced the members to do a car raffle in 1981. Ray oversaw the project and the new mustang was won by someone in Alberta, and the proceeds of the raffle were used to improve Centennial Park with some badly needed playground equipment. The equipment has mostly been replaced except for the merry go round. It was also around this time that Ray became involved in the Entertainment Society and made more than a few trips to the top of Canoe Mountain in the winter to deal with TV reception issues. It was years later that dishes and a building were installed at the present rebroadcast site. Ray also pushed for funding from the Regional District for a small television station, his vision was to have a place where students could learn about TV, editing and cameras, and to employ a lead hand to guide the students. It was during this time Ray also volunteered on to drive the BC Ambulance, which he did for about 5 years.
Ray was most proud of his children and grandchildren. Ray is survived by his wife Lidwina, their two children Christopher (Keshia) Gavin and Isabella, and Ashley (Florian) Wyatt and Mya.
Ray was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2018.
The family wishes to thank the Valemount Health Center and the McBride Hospital for the excellent care and support Ray received. ALL of the staff we encountered on his cancer/health care journey were skilled and kind and caring. We are very fortunate to have our clinic and the excellent doctors and nurses we have, the care Ray received in our Valley was in many ways better than the care received in the larger centers.