Obituaries

GROSS, Richard Harrison

Richard Harrison Gross;

Rick peacefully passed away at the age of seventy-two after a brief battle with cancer.

Remembered and greatly missed by his loving wife, Sharon, sons Jeff (Lisa), and Lindsay ( Susie), grandsons Berkley, Ryan and Jaxon, granddaughter Avery, sister Mary (son Dorian), sisters-in-law Fay, Joyce, Dee, and many nephews, nieces and friends.

Rick was born in Edmonton and moved to Victoria at the age of five. At nineteen he left home to join the RCMP. While completing training near Red Deer he met the love of his life whom he married fifty years ago this July. They were transferred to Killam where their two sons were born.

After an early retirement from the RCMP Rick was able to use his writing skills when he became editor of the Wetaskiwin News Advertiser, a job he loved.

Rick was an active member of the Kinsman Club but his passion lay in the sports world where he coached in many levels of fastball and hockey. He helped coach the Camrose Merchants to a National Fastball Championship victory in New Brunswick in 1984. He so enjoyed watching his sons excel in each sport. Rick was a great fan of the Edmonton Oilers and the B.C. Lions.

Upon retiring to Kelowna in 1997, Rick helped set up the Restorative Justice Program and volunteered at the RCMP office for twenty years.

Over the years he enjoyed many sailing and golfing trips with the friends that he had known since kindergarten.

We will all miss his kindness, his great sense of humour, and his love of storytelling.

A private memorial will be held July 13.