George Louis Munson

May 14, 1939 - February 14, 2023
It is with great sorrow that we announce the death of George Louis Munson of Terrace, BC, on February 14, 2023. He passed away quietly at Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace, after a short battle with cancer. George was cremated and will be interned in Terrace.
George will forever and lovingly be remembered by his wife of 60 years, Gail and his children, Ian (Janet), Jacqueline (Dominic), Grandchildren Geordie (Hanna), Amanda (Talia), Paul (Jamie), Salish and Finn, Great Grandchildren Cole and Summer. Sisters Patricia, Shirley, Carol and Theresa as well as numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
George was born in the town of Riverhurst, near Cold Lake, Alberta. He came into this world on Mother's Day, an extra special gift. He was the second born of George Sr and Lise Munson. He had an older brother Curtis and 6 younger sisters. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Curtis, and sisters Linda and Sarah.
He grew up in a one room cabin on his grandparents' farm. Eventually there would be 6 kids and his parents living together in that small cabin. They had no running water, no electricity, and a very cold outhouse. His parents worked hard on the farm raising chickens, pigs and cattle for sale and slaughter, canning, and preserving food to feed them through the long winters. Temperatures there could drop to - 56 Celsius. In the spring of 1947, his dad went elsewhere looking for work. He was lucky to find a job logging in Dome Creek, 100 miles east of Prince George. Eventually they were joined there by his Uncle Frank and Uncle Sid and their families. Over the next few years, the families moved around together for work, to Houston, Terrace, and the Lakes District. It was during their time in the Lakes District that George first met Gail as a young teenager. Eventually the family moved back to Terrace and that is where George went to high school.
After he gave up on school, George spent some time in Prince Rupert before he headed south to check out the big city of Vancouver. He worked at a sawmill, had a very short stint as an unsuccessful encyclopedia Britannica salesman, and became very versed in Vancouver streets as a delivery driver for The Eaton's department store. While he was living in Vancouver he reconnected with Gail Porter, she was working at St. Mary's hospital in New Westminster. They got engaged in May 1961 and got married in Burns Lake on September 15th, 1962.
They borrowed $4,000 and purchased a skidder, Bear Creek Contracting was born. The company was named after George's favorite childhood swimming hole near Cold Lake. They bought themselves a little house on south Sparks Street in Terrace and baby boy Ian arrived on May 14th, 1963, a birthday present for George. Followed 15 months later by the birth of a daughter, Jacqueline. Bear Creek found work with Columbia Cellulose up in the Nass Valley north of Terrace and then in the Whitebottom area just west of Terrace. In the late 70's Gail and George decided to invest in a small hotel out in Thornhill. Logging had slowed down drastically so George worked with Gail running The Northern Motor Inn and what would eventually be known as George's Pub. Logging picked up again in 1983 and Bear Creek went to work for Interfor, Western Forest Products and Interpac, in camps that they operated up and down the coast. This spreading of their operations led to George getting his helicopter license. After that Lakelse Air was formed to service the needs of Bear Creek. In 1991 they purchased the Thornhill Neighbourhood Pub and in the late 90's they opened BC Automotive, and then the Bear Country Inn was added in 1996.
In the 2000's George started stepping back more and more from the day to day running of Bear Creek as he wanted to pursue his many other interests and hobbies and eventually, he stepped back completely.
George was a kind and gentle man, a beloved husband, father, grandpa, great grandpa, son, brother, and friend to many. His style and sense of humor gained him many friends and a great deal of respect during his 83 years. A highly regarded member of our community, he was a quiet philanthropist, giving often and generously. George was a patriarch of our extended family, a loyal, dependable, and steady presence. When the end of his life was rushing up to meet him much faster than he had planned, he asked if he had done enough? Enough to have made a difference to others, enough good to have balanced off any bad. We assured him with all our hearts that he had done enough, more than enough and he should rest easy.
A celebration of life, memorial service will be held at 2 pm, Saturday July 15th in Terrace at the Terrace Sportsplex, on the Arena floor. There will be room for all, please join us as we share stories and celebrate the life of George Munson. Refreshments and food to follow.





















































































































































































































































































































































































































In 1991 they purchased the Thornhill Neighbourhood Pub and in the late 90's they opened BC Automotive, and then the Bear Country Inn was added in 1996.
In the 2000's George started stepping back more and more from the day to day running of Bear Creek as he wanted to pursue his many other interests and hobbies and eventually, he stepped back completely.
George was a kind and gentle man, a beloved husband, father, grandpa, great grandpa, son, brother, and friend to many. His style and sense of humor gained him many friends and a great deal of respect during his 83 years. A highly regarded member of our community, he was a quiet philanthropist, giving often and generously. George was a patriarch of our extended family, a loyal, dependable, and steady presence. When the end of his life was rushing up to meet him much faster than he had planned, he asked if he had done enough? Enough to have made a difference to others, enough good to have balanced off any bad. We assured him with all our hearts that he had done enough, more than enough and he should rest easy.
A celebration of life, memorial service will be held at 2 pm, Saturday July 15th in Terrace at the Terrace Sportsplex, on the Arena floor. There will be room for all, please join us as we share stories and celebrate the life of George Munson. Refreshments and food to follow.