It is with saddened hearts that Cynthia and Randy share the news of the peaceful passing of their father, Doug Hird on April 23, 2026 in the Cranbrook hospital. Dad was predeceased by his wife Helen and sons Richard and Doug. Dad will be greatly missed by his grandchildren Jennifer Marsden (Ian), Stephen Hird, Courtenay Mooy (Dustin), and Mary Elizabeth Pecksen (Steven). Although his great grandchildren Keegan Marsden and Quentin and Autumn Mooy may not have been a daily presence in his life, they will also feel the loss.

Everyone who knew dad, was well aware of his lifestyle. He was a bushman through and through. His love and respect of the mountains, lakes, rivers, and streams of his beloved Meachum Creek was apparent in all that he did; hunting, trapping, hiking, fishing, and cabin and trail building. He was so proud of the cabins he built because they “were nothing fancy” just solid log cabins well built. He was also very proud of his trail building and often bragged that no one could cut a cleaner, neater trail than he could. Dad’s love of the bush went so far as his spending most of his working life as a logger. He started his career with a crosscut saw and ended with chainsaws. A corner of the basement in our childhood home held many a chainsaw over the years – as did his truck. “What kind of truck doesn’t have a saw and an axe?” he would say. In his later working life, he jumped on a big old dozer and ploughed through the bush making roads and cleaning up landings for various logging companies.

Dad and mom shared most of their married life living in Marysville where they also raised 4 children – again, mostly in the same house. After dad sold the house, he moved 3 miles to Kimberley. This longevity in the area amassed him countless friends and acquaintances. He has his life long friends who have been with him through the purchasing of his first Ski-doo in the early 60’s, to younger friends who bought his beloved trapline or took him on drives up to St. Mary’s in her “rough riding” truck. He continued to make friends to the very end. The health care workers that came to care for him in his later years enjoyed his endless collection of life stories. Dad was surprised by and very grateful for everyone’s kindness, support and help as he grew older. He couldn’t figure out why people would bother with an “old, miserable bugger” like him. I must second his gratitude to the many people who helped and supported him on a daily basis. They became my surrogate eyes and ears and to receive caring and concerned phone calls from his pharmacist, family doctor and health care workers shows the high level of compassion and caring that we both were blessed to receive.

Dad, you will be greatly missed. You were on this earth for 92 years and left a legacy that will live on in memories and story. Now you can once again hike up to Haystack, take the boat out to catch some fish and then lay in the bathtub under the stars.

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