Harry "Sonny" Claude Faulkner died on Tuesday, June 16, 2015. Sonny was born in Blue River on March 16, 1937, and was predeceased by his wife and companion of 59 years, Iris Leone Faulkner, in January of this year. "Sonny" and Iris had two children, Tracey Everett (Ed) and Jayson Faulkner, along with five grandchildren: Kirby, Luke, Devlin, Jorgen, and Carter.
He often talked about his early years in Blue River and Kamloops with his 7 siblings, whom he always spoke very highly of. With Iris and his very young family, he made the bold move to West Vancouver in 1967 despite the concerns of many that taking such a risk was sure to end in tears. However, his family thrived in West Vancouver and growing up on the west coast of BC, and he never lost his small-town roots and pride of place.
Sonny was liked by everyone who knew him or met him. He was a profoundly gentle man but had no patience for rudeness or disrespect. He was a gentleman in every way. He adored his wife and was, in many ways, the perfect Father. He was always there, offering love, advice, and insight, supportive and sacrificing to those he loved. He challenged us to do and be better but also to be happy and make the best choices.
His heart is what defined him in so many ways and he loved people. He was very social and there were few things he enjoyed more than a great get together with family and friends. He was very proud of his extended family and his friends.
He was successful at everything he put his mind to. He retired as General Manager of Northern Trailer (now Horizon North) in Kamloops. Previously, Sonny had for most of his working life worked alone, fiercely independent, not wanting to lose the freedom to travel his own path. However, as GM, his last working role, he discovered that his greatest skill, his true calling, were people, and the most rewarding period of his working life was at the end of his working life. He had great affection for the people he worked with. It was the people who truly mattered to him. And that was the way he had always lived his life.
His family and friends will miss him dearly and his fight with Pancreatic cancer was a long and brutal one. Fought with grace right until the end when the fight simply became impossible.
