Aug 31, 1939 - Jan 31, 2018
Melvin (Bud) Bowles, a man who lived a colourful and interesting full life, passed away peacefully at the age of 78 on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018, with family by his side.
Born on August 31,1939 in Manitoba, to Muriel and George Bowles, Bud had from his early days an ambitious and adventurous spirit, with a deep affinity for the outdoors. "Bud" (a name given to him by his older brother Jim) went to public school in Saskatoon, Sask., and then high school in Vancouver, B.C.
Bud later explored his passion for hunting and fishing, taking his first job as a Parks Conservation Officer, first in Lac Du Bonnet and then Bissett and Ashern, Manitoba, where he started a family with his first wife Barbara. With three kids in tow, the family eventually moved west in the early 1970s, settling in Fernie, B.C., where Bud took a job with Holley Trucking in Elko, B.C., just outside of Fernie, and then Kaiser Mining, near Sparwood.
Bud moved to the West Coast in the 1980s where he met Gail at the Island Copper Mine, in Port Hardy, B.C., where they married. After purchasing and restoring "The Hammond Prince" boat, they set sail on a journey that brought them to idyllic coastal locations within the Queen Charlotte Straights, within the picturesque Nugent Sound, Seymour Inlet and Belize inlets.
There they started a family while Bud worked as a selective hand-logger and beachcomber and eventually building a state-of-the-art scuba diving resort under the name "Seymour Inlet Lodge". Scuba divers from all over the world frequented the resort, to witness first hand the Nakwakto Rapids, the world's fastest tidal rapids and world-class dive. The legendary Jacques Cousteau once said this was his favourite West Coast dive. Bud was proud of this accomplishment.
Through it all, Bud held focus on family, with six children and eventually 12 grandchildren.
Bud and his wife, Dianna, were married in 2007 and lived in Fort St. John where they spent summers at a yacht club and Bud worked as a truck driver, hauling propane in the oil patch as far north as the Yukon border. After a few years in the North, Bud and Dianna made the move to the much-warmer climate of Sicamous, B.C., where they spent time - especially in summer - entertaining family near the shores of Mara Lake.
Bud had a stretch with a truck hauling company that took him to far-away locations such as San Diego, California, and then as a bylaw officer for the city of Sicamous. Bud was always motivated to work hard and willing to learn a new skill, even if just to teach the next generation a lesson in how to work hard. He was innovative and skilled and he was tough as nails.
"Grampa Bud", as he was known to his 12 grandchildren, would make the kids laugh with his candor, quick wit and fun ways.
He is survived by a large family, including his younger brother Lawrie (Stacey); sons Ron (Heather); Dan (Megan); Gordie (Kirsten); and daughters, Shannon (Dave); Lauren; and step children Chris (Sonia); Trevor (Maureen); Johnny; Teresa (Glenn).
Bud will be forever lovingly remembered by his family and his many close friends. In the words of Dianna Bowles, "he was a really good man".
A celebration of Bud's life will be held on Sunday May 20, 2018 at the Red Barn Arts Centre in Sicamous.