Ifor Nigel Powell, 82, of Kamloops, BC, Canada, passed away on February 13, 2018. He was born in Kingston, Jamaica to Margaret and Leslie Powell, the first of three children.
Above all else, Nigel loved his family. He displayed true courage and an adventurous spirit when, in 1965, he moved his young family from Jamaica to Canada, in pursuit of a better life and future for them. He has since lived from coast to coast and many points in between, eventually retiring to Kamloops in order to be closer to his remaining children. Throughout his entire life, from jetliners to model airplanes, all things aeronautical have been his true passion. How he loved planes! Having earned his pilot wings, he flew as a volunteer with the Jamaica Air Defense Force for a time. While living in Prince Edward Island, he enjoyed volunteering with the Civil Air Search and Rescue. Although he didn’t play often, Nigel was a skilled harmonica player. When he did play, he would liven up any party. While he loved animals in general, dogs topped that list as is evidenced by the many canine furpals he had over the years. In his work life, Nigel was very proud of the years he spent as a police officer with the Jamaica Constabulary. He later went into personnel administration, and after immigrating to Canada, he worked with the Federal government Civil Service until his retirement. Nigel was a truly great example of honesty and integrity, commitment and perseverance, and we will all miss his very playful sense of humour.
Nigel is survived by his loving wife Anne Powell; his daughters Suzanne (Peter) Tomliens, Shân (Robert) Murley, and Bridget Powell; 14 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; his sister Mary (Alan) Reed, and his brother Michael (June) Powell. He was preceded in death by his first wife Patricia Powell, his son Andrew Powell, his great-grandson Gage Staley, and great-granddaughter Layla Powell. Nigel’s memory will also be cherished by his loving canine pal, Sarah.
A memorial service will be held on February 24, 2018, at 1:00 pm, at the Hills of Peace Lutheran Church, 695 Robson Drive, Kamloops, BC, followed by a reception at the Chartwell Ridgepoint Retirement Residence, 1789 Primrose Court, Kamloops, BC.
Special thanks to the Kamloops Hospice House for their excellent and tender care.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Kamloops Hospice Association, Alzheimers Society of BC, or Cystic Fibrosis Canada.
Condolences may be expressed at www.myalternatives.ca
