CARL SHEELEY
December 8, 1939 - September 20, 2014
Carl Sheeley, husband of 49 years to the love of his life, Jean, and father to Laurie (Rob Kitamura), Jen and Patrick, found his way out of this world and into the next on September 20 after a swift and honourable clash with a most aggressive cancer. Carl was the first born child to parents Joe and Dorothy Sheeley in Alert Bay and grew up in Summerland with his two brothers, Bob and Jim. Carl went on to attend UBC where he received his teaching degree and played baseball at a high level as a crafty left handed pitcher. Carl was known to all as a charismatic and vibrant man who found joy and wonder in everything he did. He lived his life to the fullest and brought out the best in all those he knew. After a 32 year career devoted to teaching and coaching high school youth (Winslow Jr. Secondary/Coquitlam, Sahali, John Peterson), he went on to revel in his retirement years, never skipping a beat but rather plunging head first into doing more of what he loved. Golfing (his healthy obsession), curling, coaching, volunteering actively throughout his community, and travelling to long anticipated places were among his most recent past times. Many of Carl’s most precious moments over the last 40 years took place at his beloved cabin on Shuswap lake where family and friends were always welcome. But above all else, Carl settled into grand parenting his four wonderful grandkids: Olivia and Charlie (Jen) and Ben and Joe (Laurie and Rob). The role he has played in their lives is immeasurable and it would seem as though he was born for that very job. Beyond the immediate family members that will miss his presence is his vast group of friends. They are a wonderful bunch who bravely came out in droves to support and love him in his final days. He was a great friend to many and known widely through Kamloops as a boisterous and kind soul. Carl made friends everywhere that he went and couldn’t help but engage deeply in the world around him. His sense of humour was second to none and he knew how to tell a story as well as he knew how to poke fun at himself. A constant sense of genuine curiosity kept Carl young in heart and mind and he was notorious for his childlike inquisitiveness about anything that caught his attention. His love of sports, weather, children, reading, travel, world affairs, friends and family meant that Carl was never bored and squeezed enjoyment from virtually everything that he did. In keeping with Carl’s wishes, a Remembrance Party will be held at 4:00 on Friday, October 3 at the Parkside Lounge within the Interior Savings Centre in Kamloops. Please consider wearing your brightest colours to honour the robust and positive spirit of a great man. Those wanting to donate in Carl’s honour are asked to consider giving to the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation or the Kamloops Chapter of Kids Sports Canada. Special thanks to the wonderful nurses of RIH ICU and Dr. Varma for their sensitive and attentive care.