Peter Devries

DEVRIES, PETER
My dear husband Peter, proud father of our three children and loving Grandpa Pete to our seven grandchildren, passed away peacefully at Crossroads Hospice in Port Moody on Good Friday, April 3, 2015.

Peter was born and schooled in Edmonton Alberta where in his late teens he went to work in the oil fields. After approximately five years of freezing temperatures, frozen muskeg and isolation of the well sites, it was time to move on. This brought him to Vancouver where in due course we met, fell in love and that was the end of any plan he had about venturing on to Australia. We married in 1957 and were blessed with three children, Dawne, Darrell and Lisa Rae. Peter’s first job in B.C. was with Shell Oil. He then spent some years selling windows to the building trade that was beginning to flourish in the bedroom communities of Surrey, Richmond and the North Shore. Eventually he became interested in and familiar with reinforced plastics and became manager of Condor Engineering where they fabricated truck parts, hoods and fenders as well as many other industrial applications in fiberglass. In the early 70s he purchased Marine Plastics where he remained as president until his passing. Since that time the company has grown from eight employees to as many as 120 when demand is strong. Through the years we travelled extensively, with New Zealand and the Scandinavian countries as favorites. Often the golf clubs came along as well. We also paid a visit to Holland to see the birth place of his parents and meet Peter’s Dutch relatives. In the mid 90s, Peter retired and he and his long-time partner, Donald Hings turned over a newly built plant in Langley B.C. to the next generation of our families. They carry on to the present, building parts for Western Star Trucks in Portland. Our final project was the 1995 construction of our retirement home at Queens Bay on Kootenay Lake. This truly became our “happy place” where we spent at least six months each year. Winter holidays included trips to Maui and eventually our own little place in the desert near Palm Springs. He believed he had it all. Peter also appreciated his employees and maintained their friendship and good will long after he had retired. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word.

Surviving him is his wife, Pat (Walgren) Devries, children, Dawne Binley (Peter), Darrell Devries (Susan), Lisa Rae Devries (Randy Wheating). Also surviving are the loving grandchildren, Ryan, Allison and Kristen Binley, Hannah and Neil Devries and Jacob and Sam Wheating. Peter was predeceased by his parents and his sister Jean Taylor. His brother Arthur Devries (Joyce) in Florida and several cousins here and abroad will also mourn his passing.

A Celebration of Life will take place at the Pitt Meadows Golf Club, 13615 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows B.C. on Sunday May 3rd at 1 p.m. Family, friends, and those who worked together with Peter before he retired are invited attend. Our deep appreciation to the palliative care home nurses from Fraser Health who maintained watch over us weekly for the past few months. Flowers are gratefully declined. A donation to Crossroads Hospice in Port Moody or the B.C. Lung Association or a charity of your choice will be appreciated. Peter’s ashes will be taken to his home in Queens Bay this summer.