WATKINS, Garry, January 10, 1940 - May 26, 2010. It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Garry Watkins. Garry was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and came, with his parents and brother, to Canada when he was 7. After surviving a harsh winter in Winnipeg the family headed west to Vancouver. He became involved in politics at a young age. He was first elected to the Surrey School Board in 1968 and later went on to serve as a Surrey City Councillor for 19 years. One of his greatest accomplishments was helping to preserve the Semiahmoo Trail and Sunnyside Acres. His other passion was teaching. He was a teacher for 42 years and still missed it every day since retiring from the Abbotsford School District five years ago. He will be sadly missed by his wife, Anne; his daughters, Laura Watkins and Julie (David) LaRiviere; son Michael (Selina) Watkins; his grandchildren: Larissa, Lindsay and Nick Warkentin, Erik and Lauren LaRiviere, Sylvia and Ella Watkins. Sadly Garry was predeceased by his son, Thomas Watkins in 2008. He also has one surviving brother Joe Watkins as well as many nieces and nephews. He will be remembered fondly by those who loved and cared about him as being a kind hearted, creative, and a humorous individual. A Celebration of Life will be at 1:00 P.M. Friday, June 25, 2010 at Victory Memorial Park Funeral Centre, 14831 - 28th Avenue, Surrey, BC. Donations to BC Children's Hospital would be appreciated in Garry's memory.
Victory Memorial Park Funeral Centre 604-536-6522 Condolences may be offered at www.victoryfuneralcentre.ca