Obituary of William Karmas

William Karmas passed away peacefully at the Kimberley Special Care Home "The Pines" with his family by his side on March 30, 2014.

Bill was born March 25, 1922 in Elk Point, Alberta. He enlisted with the Royal Canadian Army and served from 1944 to 1947. He met Mary (Sorochan) in Edmonton and they married June 2, 1951. Bill and Mary moved to Yellowknife where they lived from 1951 to 1963. Bill worked as a hoist man at Con Mine during this time. From 1963 to1965, Bill was the co-owner/manager of Vermilion Bowl, in Vermilion, Alberta. The family then moved to Marysville. Bill resumed working for Cominco/Teck as an operator at the fertilizer plant, retiring in 1980.

Bill was a founding member of the Royal Canadian Legion and the Elks Club in Yellowknife and continued this involvement after moving to BC. He enjoyed curling, camping, travelling, playing cribbage, gardening and wood working. The hobby that gave him the greatest joy was searching for rocks as he walked many miles on the nature path linking Marysville to Kimberley. He transformed those rocks into little painted penguins, turtles, whales and especially lady bugs. He always had a pocketful of lady bugs to give to people he met along the nature path and in the community. Many of Bill's lady bugs are in homes, gardens and businesses in the area.

Bill is survived by his wife, Mary, daughter Adelle, grandsons Jordan and Evan; daughter Lorri (Jim Bennett), grandson Andrew; sister Mary Marusyk (formerly of Kimberley); and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family sincerely thanks Dr. Haiduk, staff of the Kimberley Medical Clinic, and especially the staff of The Pines for their compassionate and tender care of Bill and kind support of his family during the past two years. You all have been wonderful.

At Bill's request, there will be no funeral service. Those wishing to make a memorial donation in honour of Bill may do so to the Kimberley Nature Park Society, Box 398, Kimberley, BC, V1A 2Y9.

 

Arrangements entrusted to McPherson Funeral Service.

Condolences for the family can be offered at:

www.mcphersonfh.com