A pair of Surrey seniors with copious memories from their days in the country-music scene are crossing their fingers someone has found a ring that has great sentimental value to them.
Bert De Fehr has worn the custom-made horseshoe-shaped ring on his right pinky finger for more than three decades – after getting the OK from Canadian country-music legend Hank Snow, who wore a similar piece.
"We travelled with Hank Snow and he had one of those rings," said Audrey De Fehr.
"He said, 'you have my blessing.'"
The 14-karat gold ring – with diamonds in the setting – slipped off Bert's finger sometime on Aug. 30. Bert had grown so comfortable wearing it, he didn't notice it was gone until after the pair had visited three stores: Walmart in South Surrey, the Shoppers Drug Mart near 152 Street and Fraser Highway and the nearby No Frills grocery store.
Despite appeals in newspaper classified ads in the weeks since, the ring is still missing.
"When I sat down to write about this (for a 'lost' ad), I had to go back to 1949," Bert said.
The De Fehrs – who had a booking agency during the '60s and early-'70s – remember travelling with Snow in Penticton. Audrey describes him as a private person who one-upped everyone in manners.
"You'd say thank you, he would up it," Audrey recalled. "He was never short on thank yous."
Other celebrities the De Fehrs remember fondly include Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Ray Price, Elmer Tippy, George Hamilton, Kitty Wells and Charlie Pride.
"We have many memories – things that we can say, and things that we can't," Bert said.
Bert also has fond memories of his own band, Westwinds – he played under the stage name Bert Wade – which he said fronted for many of the shows the couple booked.
Along with those memories, the treasured horseshoe ring was to be passed along as a family heirloom.
Heartbroken at the loss, the De Fehrs remain hopeful that whoever found the ring will return it. They can be reached at tide@telus.net