Mar 5, 1935 - Apr 7, 2018
It is with heartfelt sadness that we announce the sudden and unexpected passing of Ronald Anthony Cote on April 7, 2018 at the age of 83 years, with his family at his side.
Ron is survived by his loving wife of 60 years Gloria Cote, daughters Colleen Beckley (August), Lorraine Ladds (Jim) and son Vernon Cote (Wanda), grandchildren Ryan Beckley (Kaitlynn), Mara Norlin (Al), Paula Ladds and Nicholas Raposo (Lynette), great-grandchildren Ryka and Macklin Beckley, Brayden Beckley and Maddox Norlin, sisters Irene Johnson and Ann Addison and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Ron is predeceased by his parents Anthony and Kathleen (Kay) Cote, and sister Joyce Jefferd.
A Memorial Service was held on Tuesday, April 10, 2018, officiated by Tom Harris.
Ron was born and raised in Terrace B.C. As a young 14 year old boy he began trapping with his Uncle Albert. His passion for trapping led to the purchase of his own trapline in his late teens from Mrs.Skinner, located on the lower Copper River. In the mid 1960's he purchased his current trapline located on the Lakelse River. He worked this trapline routinely, weather depending until the week before he suddenly died. Even though his mobility was limited, his longtime friend Dennis Mutschke accompanied him these last few years as his "feet" and did the leg work, locating and setting of the traps. He became such a master at trapping and preparing the pelts that his expertise was recognized by the North American Fur
Association with numerous awards.
Logging and machinery was his career and what he knew well. He drove his logging trucks with prized logs from the forests of the Skeena Valley to his small Amsbury Sawmill, producing top quality lumber for sales.
After years of packing an aluminum lunchbox and a thermos of coffee, he never retired from packing a lunchbox and thermos every morning, no matter what the plans were for the day. Well known for his story telling, he had such a sharp recall for the finest of details and combined with a funny sense of humour, many hours could be spent reminiscing with any who would participate. A few times, the stories were repeated with the same attention to detail and usually ended with a good laugh.
Living on their half acre on Park Avenue for over 60 years, the yard and gardens flourished with the beauty of gorgeous blooms and an abundance of produce that was shared with so many. The potato patch produced hefty crops in the hundreds of pounds, with one potato weighing in at 3 1/2 lbs! The greenhouses gave a yearly supply of grape jelly from the grapes he was proud of.
He tended to his Beehives for many years, even bringing home swarming bees to give them a new home. He called himself a farmer, but that title came into question when he put a male and a female rabbit together and said it was no problem.... not long later, it was a problem!
Then there were the feral cats that he generously fed over the years and would come when he called their names - Halfyard, Blackie, Boots, and the only surviving cats Beaver and Slabs. He always had a solution for everything and his reminiscing of days gone by gave him great pleasure as those were his words of wisdom. He was a man of his word and never forgot that. He so often contemplated just stuff on his to do list, but a coffee and a good dessert took care of everything.
Ron was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and his family gave him great joy. He will be forever loved and so dearly missed by his family, long time friends and those who knew him.
Those wishing to do so may make a memorial donation in Ron's memory to the REM Lee Hospital Foundation.