Don Ternan passed away on December 4, 2022

Don was born in Kamloops, BC on May 30, 1931 to “Geh” and Doris Ternan. Geh was a prominent figure in the BC Forest industry and that meant Don moved with his family several times between Kamloops, Prince George and Vancouver which is where he graduated from MaGee High School in 1949.

Don was a loyal friend and social person at heart. Don added friends to his network throughout his life, friends he would socialize with, travel with, and spend many long days relaxing at various lakes around the Province.

After high school, Don enrolled in UBC but “opted out” early in favor of work and becoming a charter member of the Gun Club. The Gun Club was where many memorable events occurred, including meeting Lorna who was a Flight Attendant. During the working portion of the Gun Club years, Don got to know some of the rural parts of BC very well. He spent various summers working in fish processing facilities on the coast and surveying what is now BC Highway #3, the Hope Princeton Highway.

After Don and Lorna met, Don moved to Savona for work but spent many a weekend driving his Austin Healy back to Vancouver to visit Lorna.

They were married in 1966 and moved to the Sahali area Kamloops where all three boys were born: Jeff in 1968, Bruce in 1969 and Greg in 1971.

Family time in the early days included lots of outdoor adventures like exploring the countryside and searching for wild asparagus among the rattlesnake infested hillsides; asparagus which Lorna would have turned into a delicious part of the evening meal. Family time was also spent with high school friends at their family properties around the Shuswap. Early in Don and Lorna’s marriage they met the Scott’s (Dick, Carla, Bob, Jim, and Jeannie) their lifelong friends with whom many adventures and good times were spent and continue to this day.

The family moved to Kinsac Street in Coquitlam in 1972 where Don eventually began work with Slocan, the fledgling sawmill company. Don got in close to the ground floor with Slocan and eventually was one of the largest private shareholders of Slocan Stock. He remained with Slocan, as a Lumber Salesman, until his retirement. The boys recall going to the Slocan office on Sundays to make long distance calls on their way to see Don’s Dad in Richmond.

The years in Coquitlam spoke a lot about the person Don, and by extension, his family meant to those around him.

984 Kinsac was ground zero for socials for all ages for decades. The Ternan’s provided infrastructure like hot tubs and boats to go crabbing at Barnet Beach. Don and Lorna were superb hosts whether for large family gatherings, ad-hoc socials, or anything in between. A favorite gathering for all was the annual New Years Day Brunch hosted at 984 each year where Don prepared his famous Shuswap Gooblies. Don was most at home at the head of the dining room table carving whatever delicious main course Lorna had cooked. Quality ingredients were the norm, top quality seafood, top cuts of meat, or wild game. Don particularly loved getting his choice of small pieces he called ‘carvers choice’.

Through Slocan, Don was a member of Club 86 during the Expo Fair in Vancouver and we all remember the roof rack of the blue Chevy Van scraping the roof of the parkade of the Club. Don didn’t let a few scratches deter him from showing his guests a good time.

The family home was made available for handfuls of borders over the years – always at little or no cost to the student. The only real admission required was a bit of dialogue from time to time. Without being demanding, Don liked to keep aware of what was going on around him, usually when he was scouring the Vancouver Sun and enjoying a coffee and cigarette in the kitchen.

Don was a willing participant in family hunts for years. He was always up for a bird shoot in Daysland. Many a fall day was spent preparing for the hunt, building blinds, and debriefing afterwards with a cigarette and a cocktail.

Don (aka Swampman) coined a lot of nicknames for young people over the years. It made kids feel special that an adult took the time to personally identify with them.

In 1989 the Ternan’s bought into New Atlin – the cabin at Quesnel Lake. Don continued with his sporting ways and spent a lot of time trying to master the temperamental ways of the lake. Along with Dick, Don spent many days planning the next project; a new deck, dock, paint job, whatever. Don was responsible for designing the New Atlin flag, and he was awarded a few Moose Hats along the way. He was always a good sport about it.

In retirement, Don and Lorna got to spend some extended periods of time at the lake and they continued to be the superb hosts they were on Kinsac Street. With work behind him and Quesnel Lake ahead of him, this might have been the happiest time in Don’s life. Unfortunately, Lorna passed – way too early – in 1998. Although Don still spent lots of time at the lake, it just wasn’t the same without Lorna. Still, Don kept on top of the Quesnel Lake residents and had an active social life during the warmer months at the lake for several years. In the end, Don’s most memorable contribution to life at Quesnel Lake might be as the player of the Gut Bucket with the Junction Junkies Band during Frank Izzard’s annual fish fry. He absolutely owned those moments.

The last few years of Don’s life saw his health deteriorate. The house on Kinsac was too much to manage so he moved to a rancher in Vernon where Greg and his extended family assisted in an ever-increasing way. Through it all, whenever he was on the phone, he was as animated and curious about life as ever. Don didn’t let on that he was slowing down so quickly.

As the seasons of Don’s life passed, he turned his attention squarely toward his grandkids. He was keenly interested in their comings and goings, their accomplishments, their advancements, and whatever energy he could harness from their youth. He was extremely grateful for the time he got to spend with them and he was thrilled to see the people they were becoming.

Throughout his life, Don had the means to live a more opulent lifestyle. But in the end, what Don really enjoyed was good conversation with good friends or family. If he could be wearing his blue shorts & moccasins and have a view of a lake in front of him at the time, all the better. Don truly loved being surrounded by people he loved.

Don, if there you’re stepping off a dock when you meet St. Peter, remember to ‘watch the cable’.

Don is survived by sons Jeff (Jeannie), Bruce, and Greg (Jen), and grandchildren Marika, Jack, Connor, and Kyle.

There is no service planned at this time. In lieu of flowers, donations are encourage to Ducks Unlimited Canada. Any notes, stories and details for a later planned celebration of life please email the family at Jeffpud1968@gmail.com