Bea Dezell died on March 6 at the age of 105.
Husband Garvin was the city's mayor throughout the 1960s while Bea was well known for her involvement in the Girl Guides, and was instrumental in establishing a camp for Guides and Brownies east of Prince George.
Bea's Tree offers a lasting legacy to this day. In 1953 Dezell bought a silver three-foot high Christmas tree from Perry's Pharmacy for her Brownie pack's Christmas parties. In 2004 the tree became part of the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation's live auction and since then has raised more than $125,000. In 2012 it was auctioned off for $52,500, which was a record at the time.
Dezell was an active member in the Royal Purple for 65 years, the Good Cheer Club, and the White Cane Club in her latter years, as her vision declined. Dezell was known as a social butterfly who kept up with technology, earning her the nickname of Granny Gadget and if ever was questioned about something, could be heard to quip "just Google it."
MaryAnne Arcand died on March 17 at 59 years old. Hospitalized by a stroke on Feb. 6, doctors discovered cancer in an advanced stage that ultimately took her life.
Arcand was known as the Bulldozer for her no-nonsense, direct approach to any challenge, especially in her extensive work as a safety advocate in the forest industry working for the B.C. Forest Safety Council, the Central Interior Logging Association, the founder of the Carbon Offsets Aggregation Cooperative and her volunteer work with the Rotary Club of Prince George Downtown.
Arcand loved to sing and play her guitar and used music as a way to connect with youth during her volunteering hours. She volunteered with the Prince George Brain Injured Group as well as the Rotary Youth Leadership program, and helped to create the Big Blue Ball fundraiser for prostate cancer prevention programs to advocate for men's health.
Josephine (Joie) Selkirk died Sept. 6 at the age of 102.
Well known in the community, Selkirk was a veteran, local volunteer, world traveler, author and amateur actress.
Selkirk was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force Women's division and served from 1942 to 1945 in clerical roles in Ottawa, Winnipeg and Toronto as a corporal.
Selkirk was named 1982's Citizen of the Year by the Prince George Rotary Club.
After Selkirk lost her husband in 1972, she became an active member of the Royal Canadian Legion, and for her extensive service she received the Meritorious Service Medal, Palm Leaf award and named a life member of the Legion.
Selkirk took part in the eighth Commonwealth Expedition in 1976, a six-month road trip from the U.K. to Afghanistan, through India, Pakistan, Syria, Iran, Iraq and Europe. Her experiences prompted her to self-publish a book called Journeys with Jo Selkirk. She also wrote for magazines and newspapers.
Later in life, Selkirk joined the Elder Citizens' Recreation Association's drama club where she shone as a comedic actress and in her mid-90s memorized and recited The Highwayman and The Shooting of Dan McGrew.
Father Nick Forde, born Sept. 8, 1932 in Cardiff Wales, was a longtime Roman Catholic priest in the Prince George diocese who died June 13.
Forde was instrumental in developing the Catholic school system in Prince George.
Forde grew up admiring his uncle who was a parish priest and then heard tales of foreign mission from Father Willie Sweeney.
He answered his calling and entered the Order of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, becoming a priest on March 16, 1957.
During his first assignment Forde was sent to Africa and served there for 14 years until 1971. He traveled South Africa with a group of priests, then was based out of Johannesburg for seven years and worked at missions all over the continent.
In Prince George Bishop O'Grady ministered to residents in remote communities and as immigration increased there was enough support to create a diocese in Prince George.
Catholic education was brought to Prince George with 13 elementary schools and one high school. When O'Grady called for help with the Prince George College, Father Forde agreed to come.
Immaculate Conception school was built in 1981, and later he had a hand in reestablishing secondary Catholic education with O'Grady high school.
He was the former Chaplain of the PG Regional Correctional Center, the Canadian Armed Forces Base (Baldy Hughes), the Royal Canadian Legion branch 43 and the Catholic Women's League. Forde was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus and a loyal member of the P.G. Golf & Curling Club.
Two teens drowned at Kwitzil Lake, better known as Gravel Pit Lake, 42 kilometres west of Prince George, on May 18.
At 4 a.m. emergency crews were called to the scene after a vehicle went into the water where there was a large party going on.
Kendall Moore, 17, and Craig Wood, 19, lost their lives.
Baby Shea Fell was born Dec. 9, 2013 and died July 12 at 11:08 p.m.
This little boy had a rare skin disorder called junction epidermolysis bullosa (EB) that made his skin so sensitive that even the slightest friction gave him blisters. He had the kind of EB where a variant of the genetic disorder caused the blisters to compound on themselves and to break out internally, which impaired his ability to ingest food properly and made it difficult for him to breathe.
The community came together to support the Fell family with donations as baby Shea needed special formula, seamless clothing, ultra soft blankets and special linings for bathtubs, car seats and his crib. It also meant an ongoing need for medical supplies and special dressings for the worst of the blisters.
Shea's father, Bryn, started a blog about the family's journey with Shea called Love For Shea where he poignantly updated the struggles for the little boy and expressed his gratitude to the community for their unending support. Bryn said it was cathartic to write the blog. It was a way for him to process what they were going through and a way to share Shea with the world.
"I don't think anything would have made this easier but knowing that so many people were behind us definitely helped us feel stronger," said Christy, a first-time mom. "We want to thank the community for falling in love with Shea and we were very touched."
