December 25, 1931 – October 20th, 2021

Ray Giles, 89, a long time resident of  Logan Lake, BC left us peacefully on October 20th, 2021 to be with his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Ray is survived by his son Owen (Jeran) Giles and two grand-daughters, Eryka and Leighton, as well as his sister Violet Goodfellow.

Predeceased by his loving wife, Julia (2017), his parents Coltus and Evelyn Giles, his brother Gordon, and his sisters Wanda, Norma and Ruth.

Raymond was born on Christmas day 1931 in Oak Buff, MB, near Winnipeg.  He was the oldest of six children.  Much of Ray’s childhood was in the small gold mining town of Bissett, MB where his dad worked underground at the San Antonio Mines.  Around the age of 15, his family moved east to Long Lake MB.  Ray felt the need to help his father provide for their family so he tried school by correspondence and started working at Ogama Rockland Gold Mine.  A couple years later his family moved to Atikokan, ON and Steep Rock Iron Ore Mine.  Ray gained employment with the Department of Lands and Forestry as a fire lookout forest ranger.  A few years later he returned to mining where he started as general labour.  Over the years, due to his hard work, determination and loyalty he progressed his way up to supervisor.  He continued to help his family ensuring everyone was taken care of.

His life changed in the early 1970’s when he met his soulmate, Julia, when she was visiting her cousins.  Ray and Julia got married and 3 years later they had a son.  In 1979 the mine closed so they migrated west to British Columbia, settling in Logan Lake where Ray worked as a millwright at Lornex/Highland Valley Copper until his retirement in 1998.  In total Ray worked 50 years in mining!

Ray and Julia enjoyed travelling much of Canada and United States in their camper van.  Ray liked tinkering, trying to fix things as well as snacking on all of Julia’s baking.  He was commonly seen shovelling snow on his driveway or cutting the grass which was really just an excuse to chat with whoever walked by his house.

Ray will probably be remembered for all his stories.  He enjoyed a good conversation whether down at the coffee shop or over the fence.  I would consider my dad a smart, straightforward man.  He had Jesus Christ as his lead, that is all he needed, well and maybe a cup of coffee and a shovel.  Three scriptures that encapsulate his life would be, “For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, for whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16); “By grace you have been saved, through faith, it is the gift of God, and not the result of works, so no man can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9); and the last one you should look up, James 2:14-26.

Thanks for being an example of hard work, loyalty, service, longsuffering, and generosity.  I am proud to be “Ray Giles’ Young Fella”!

Celebration of Life service will be held at The Rock Baptist Church, 220 Opal Drive, in Logan Lake on Thursday, October 28, 2021, at 2:00 pm

You may express your message of condolence at Alternatives Funeral & Cremation.

• Date : 2021-10-20
• Location : Logan Lake