Obituary of John Walter Alphonse Graham

John Walter Graham was born May 31, 1931 in Slave Lake, AB to John and Adeline (Sinclair) Graham. John had a younger brother George and half-sisters Julie MacDonald, Marcellene, Justine and Evelyn. John lived in Slave Lake for the first 8 years of his life at which time his father passed away and he then moved with family to Smith, AB. To earn some pocket money while growing up, John and George would hunt squirrels and sell their pelts. Later they would sell hard boiled eggs to the troops at the Smith rail switching yard. John began working for railway contractors as a young teenager with his brother, where they would peel ties and cut cord wood. John then started work building trestle railroad bridges in Sangudo, AB; Pouce Coupe, BC and one on the Snake Pit road leading to Dawson Creek. Dawson Creek soon became John's home. He began working on many different construction projects, framing homes, water and sewer, logging and sawmills. During the early years of construction work he met life-long friends, Bill Lynde and Earl Rennie. Soon after John met Betty, Earl's sister. While working at the Park Hotel as a bartender and managerial partner, a relationship with Betty developed and little did he know they would be married soon after. The household grew with the birth of 3 daughters, Sharon, Angie and Jackie and a long-awaited son, Gordon. John joined the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 115 and began working on the construction of the WAC Bennett Dam. He continued to work in construction (pipelining, road construction, oilfield lease building and mining) which took him to all parts of northwestern Canada. Places such as, Slave Lake, Watson Lake, Dawson City, Yellowknife, Whitehorse, Cassiar and Vancouver Island, just to name a few. While in the Union he came to be known as a "Mudhen" (For those that don't know the term, he was the one called when a problem required a specialty equipment operator). John's specialties were backhoes and excavators. In his time with Operating Engineers he filled the position of Union Rep for the Dawson Creek office. Construction life style was hard on the family and Betty and John decided to part ways in 1990, however, remained friends until Betty passed away in 2008. John lived in southern BC for sometime while still working construction. He decided to return to Dawson Creek in 1995 to be closer to his grandchildren and friends, spending lots of time with his grandchildren and spoiling them whenever he could. As the grandchildren grew into fine young adults, they would still seek their grandfather's advice. Whenever he was not working he was lending a hand to anyone that needed it. John and Ann met in 1997 and spent the last 16 years happily together. John loved being at home, but they did do some traveling to see family and friends. He was always busy in the shop or in the yard or building and fixing things. He had to be busy doing something. They had two dogs, Sissy and Maddison. John cooked turkey breast and hamburger and hand fed them every day. Ann's family loved John and he treated them like gold. No matter what they needed, he was always there. They will miss him dearly. John continued to work until he was 80, where shortly after he was diagnosed with asbestos lung cancer. He persevered, not willing to give up and lived for another 1 years. John passed away on June 6, 2013 at 82 years of age. We say farewell to a man who worked hard throughout his life, believed in himself and others, was determined, strong, sincere, humorous and caring. One of his favourite phrases was "What's Next". John's memory lives on through his beloved partner of 16 years Ann Meier. His loving children, Sharon (Glenn) Balla, Angie (Jeffrey) Johnsen, Jackie Rose and Gordon (Debbie) Graham. His loving grandchildren, Michelle Balla, Ryan, Nathan and Mitchell Johnsen, Kolby and Brianna Rose, Kane and Megan Graham Loving extended family, Ann's children, Brenda Grant, Terry (Douglas) Traina, Bruce (Tracy) Hartman and grandchildren, Brittany Ulledal (Gordon Rowe), Daniel and Benjamin Traina, Dylan and Hannah Hartman. Sister in law Gwen Fordyce and her family. Brother George's family, Crystal, Susan and Jim, sister in law Thelma (Tara) Graham. Predeceased by his mother and father, Adeline and John Graham, brother, George Graham, half- sisters, Julie MacDonald, Marcellene, Justine and Evelyn, wife Betty (Elizabeth) Graham, and brother in law, Ken Fordyce and his best friend Sissy. A tea for family and friends was held Thursday, June 13 at 2:00 pm at Reynars Funeral Home and Crematorium. For friends so wishing, donations may be made in memory of John to the South Peace BC SPCA 637-114 Avenue Dawson Creek, BC V1G-3A1. Very Respectfully Reynars Funeral Home & Crematorium