Born January 3, 1923, Ian Carne passed away peacefully in Victoria, BC, at the age of 88 on October 30, 2011. Raised on the farm in Proctor, BC, he joined the RCAF in 1941 and served with distinction in West Africa, India and Burma until his discharge in 1945. On returning to Canada, he enrolled in the Faculty of Agriculture at UBC, receiving his BSc degree. His entire working career was in the service of the BC Government, first as a field horticulturist for 20 years in Vernon, Salmon Arm, and Abbotsford. His latter 15 years of service were based in Victoria, largely administering agricultural financial programs until his retirement in 1984 as assistant deputy minister in the Ministry of Agriculture.

Predeceased by Edna, his wife of 61 years, he is lovingly remembered by his children, Rob (Joan), Les (Sherry), Gary (Diane), Norm, and Lynda (Lonnie); grandchildren Tracy, Courtney, Jared, David, Andrew, Dane and MacKenzie, and great grandson Christopher; sister-in-law, Mary; and nieces Jean and Deborah and her family.

Ian was hard-working, honest, and a master gardener with a cheerful sense of humour and a willingness to help out his family and neighbours. He loved his fruit trees and a good game of crib, especially with his agriculture friends’ crib club for many years. He also enjoyed sailing, curling and, along with Edna, was a longtime member of the Lakehill Lawn Bowling Club. Numerous perennials and shrubs that he took from cuttings from his garden still flourish today in many of his children’s gardens. His beloved ever-bearing strawberries still produce delicious bounties every year. He will be sorely missed as he always left his mark as a “gentleman’s gentlemen.”