Michael passed away peacefully on August 2, 2021.

Michael was born in Vernon on October 24, 1941 the first of two children for Beryl and Harry, and older brother to Ann.

The family home stood at the end of Vernon’s main street and as a boy he roamed the hills and developed a love for the outdoors.

He attended and graduated from Vernon Secondary School where his passion for playing pool sometimes trumped his passion for learning.

He met the love of his life Wendy at school, perhaps wooing her with his beat-up 1936 Mercury that had the fenders removed.

After high school, he entered a business program as the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) then returned to Vernon and began working for Household Finance. Michael was no “repo man” and soon made the decision to join the business his great grandfather had founded, Jacques Jewelers.

His stake in the business grew over the 40 years that he helped customers mark the milestones in their lives with watches, silverware, china and crystal to match every important occasion.

He married his high-school sweetheart Wendy in July of 1963 and together they started a family with the arrival of Sean in 1964, James in 1967, Debra in 1970 and Andrea in 1972.

Family was his greatest passion. He was a devoted husband and father who took great pride in the achievements of his children and grandchildren. His interest, unconditional love and support for their paths never wavered and was a source of strength for us all. We were all raised to be each other’s cheerleaders and to celebrate all life’s accomplishments.

Summers and weekends were spent at the family cabin on Okanagan Lake near friends and family. It was his favorite retreat: a place to putter, relax, take on projects, and most importantly, be together. Michael had a keen interest in the world and loved to travel to see new places. Together with dearest friends the Michaluks, they travelled to see Europe, Asia, the Pacific, the far north, and Mexico, gathering small treasures and lasting memories along the way.

To know Michael was to know a truly humble and kind man. A “gentleman” in the truest sense, whose honesty, integrity, empathy and caring were felt whenever you were in his presence. He would have asked that we not write those words, he would not think it appropriate to flatter him. We were truly blessed to have had him in our lives.

Michael is survived by his sister Ann Marrs (Brian), wife Wendy, his children Sean (Barb), James (Kim), Debra (Guy), Andrea (Adam), and grandchildren Michael, Jackie, Daniel, Benjamin, Aiden, Avery and Bailey.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the BC Cancer Agency.

A celebration of Michael’s life will take place at Pleasant Valley Funeral Home.