Alden "Al" Leslie Oliver

November 15, 2023

Alden (Al) Oliver, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather passed from this life into the presence of his Lord and Saviour on Nov. 15, 2023, at the age of 83 at Overlander Residential Care in Kamloops BC.  In spite of our deep sadness, we have comfort and peace in knowing that he is now home with his Lord Jesus Christ. The special moments that each of us cherish will remain in our hearts.

Al is lovingly remembered by his wife and best friend of 48 years, Sharon, along with children Jeff (Rose), Koby (Dan), Dulaine (Pat), Darren (Cathy), Debra (Cheryl); grandchildren Devon (Aphithay), Brianna (Scott), Alex (Mabel), Rachael, Juno and Lucy; great-grandchildren Naiyanna, Quinn, and Logan, as well as sisters Shirley, Diane, and Karen, sister-in-law Pat, brother-in-law Terry (Naj), and many nieces and nephews.

Born in Colgate SK, to Elmer and Violet Oliver, Al grew up on the family farm. He attended the University of Saskatchewan obtaining an Agriculture degree in 1962, and then operated his own farm before moving, during his first marriage, to Kamloops in 1970.

Al enjoyed working in several fields, but his most rewarding years were with TRU (then Cariboo College) where he wrote the curriculum for, and taught, the original Horticulture Maintenance program in the early 1980s, and the last 23 years of his working life with the BC Gov’t as the Provincial Ginseng Specialist, and Regional Horticulturist, retiring in 2004. In 1998 Al and Sharon moved from Kamloops to Chase after purchasing their retirement home there.

Al will be remembered by all who knew him for being a respected, kind and gentle man of integrity as well as for his humorous quick-wit!

During his lifetime he enjoyed camping and gold panning, activities such as playing baseball and curling, and hobbies including rock and mineral collecting and jewelry making, but he definitely had a particular passion for gardening, as his parents had, and which he has passed on to his children. He loved the hours spent propagating, planting, pruning, weeding, and sharing plants and produce with others. While living in Chase he also enjoyed speaking to area garden clubs, and giving tours of his and Sharon’s home which featured a large, landscaped property with their extensive hosta plant collection.

In 1978 Al became a devout Christian and his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ became his priority in life, and even when, during his later years he experienced many major challenges to his health, he faced them all with faith, courage, and grace.

Our family would like to thank the amazing staff and volunteers at Overlander Residential Care, Al’s final home. We cannot say enough about the compassionate and loving care that he and we received there. We appreciate and are so very grateful to each one of you.

A celebration of Al’s life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Al may be made to The Mustard Seed Kamloops https://theseed.ca/ or the Alzheimer’s Society of BC https://alzheimer.ca/bc/en

Arrangements entrusted to

Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services 250-554-2324

Condolences may be expressed to the family by phone or email through Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services: