December 29, 1943 – December 30, 2010
It is with great sadness that the family of Dale James Drever announces his untimely passing.
He leaves behind his loving wife Darlene, his mother Luella Drever, sisters Mona (Jack) McManus, and Marilyn (Allan) Ross, brother Kent (Trudy) Drever, and brother-in-law Larry (Terry) Pasemko, sister-in-law Shelley (Jan) Klesko, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, and his beloved companion Vinnie. Dale is predeceased by his father, Jim Drever. Also mourning his loss are teaching colleagues and students in Edmonton, and friends from Salt Spring Island.
Born in Castor, Alberta, Dale graduated from the University of Alberta with degrees in Art and Education. The majority of his career teaching Art was at Strathcona High School in Edmonton where he developed his unique teaching ‘strategies’. If Dale had his way, Art classes would be compulsory and Math an option and he thought that everyone should take up art, not just those with talent and aptitude. He was invigorated by the ongoing contact with past students and enjoyed following their accomplishments.
Dale and Darlene retired to Beddis Beach on Salt Spring Island, where they have lived for the past eleven years attracting a wide circle of friends from all across the Island through the warmth of the home that they created together.
In addition to being a fine and passionate artist, this talented and delightful man took great pleasure in creating an innovative and extensively landscaped garden full of colour and texture.
Keenly interested in the complexities of race-horse breeding, shrewdly he never placed a bet on horses preferring to paint them instead.
Dale was a consistently optimistic and cheerful man who observed the world through mildly irreverent but kindly eyes. His gentle personality, quick wit, and wonderful sense of humour will be greatly missed by his family, friends and professional associates.
A celebration of Dale’s life will be held at 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 5th, 2011
Salt Spring Island United Church
111 Hereford Avenue
Messages of condolence can be e-mailed to info@haywardsfuneral.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Dale’s honour to the SSI Humane Society (www.spca.bc.ca/branches/salt-spring-island) or Island Wildlife Natural Centre, 322 Langs Road, SSI, B.C. V8K 1N3