Nov 30, 1923 - Apr 13, 2018
Harold Keenan of Enderby, BC passed away Friday, April 13 at the Noric House care home in Vernon. He lived a full 94 years of the best possible life.
Born in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, he came to Canada in 1947. As a starving immigrant, he did live on a little boat in Coal Harbour near Stanley Park. It was during this period in his life that he met Annie Bloom whom he described as the "sweetest girl he ever knew". He ate many meals in her parents' home in North Vancouver! They were married in 1952.
His only profession was as a shipwright. He had learned the trade of wooden boat building in the Harlum & Wolf shipyard where Titanic was built. He received no payment during his apprenticeship years. His first pay cheque came when he could build a boat himself. He was employed in all but one shipyard on the Vancouver waterfront. His water taxis are still functioning in Horseshoe Bay area to this day. His last constructed boat, built in Enderby, is currently part of the Vancouver Maritime Museum's collection. Even in Ireland, the clinker built style of wooden boat that he built, has become a lost art.
Harold loved the sea, reading the Bible daily and collecting the "perfect tool for the job". In 1986 he was retired from his last job with the Department of Fisheries in New Westminster, BC. It was in his retirement years that he made the move to Enderby.
Enderby has become familiar with the sight of Harold crossing the highway to attend the Kingdon Hall, eat fish & chips, visit the liquor store, the dentist, the downtown merchants, picking up the mail, etc. All the daily rhythms of the full and rich 94 years he enjoyed.
Harold is survived by two sons Larry and Mark, one daughter Joy, 3 grandchildren: Ben, Amos & Myra; extended family and many, many friends.
He is predeceased by his wife Annie.
Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family at www.MyAlternatives.ca.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to ALTERNATIVES FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES, Armstrong 250-546-7237 & Vernon 250-558-0866.
Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Services