Saturday, September 12, 2020
In Memory of my Cousin, John Chester:
John was the grandson of John (Jack) Chester and Edith Chester, early pioneers of the Fernie area (Coal Creek), who immigrated to Canada from England. John’s grandfather and John’s dad Dan Chester, both received medals of bravery for saving many lives in the Coal Creek mine disasters. There is much history about the Chester family, who made their home for many years in Coal Creek, before moving to Fernie in their elder years. John was the last Chester to carry on the Chester family name.
John grew up in Fernie. As children, I remember the good old times, where we would all be around a pot belly stove, in the living room of our Grandparents home in Coal Creek, a bear rug, hanging on the wall, and the fresh buns that our grandmother would bake for early morning breakfasts. There were the Christmas dinners that we all shared in Coal Creek in our younger years. I remember my grandfather taking us up the mountain to pick huckleberries. I remember our Uncle Bill and Auntie Jane who also lived in Coal Creek, singing in the truck, with us kids in the back of the truck, sitting on boxes, with their two horses tied behind. (We would never experience this in today’s society). Those were the days of so much fun. There are many favourable memories of Coal Creek and Fernie, that all of us cousins shared.
My brother Rob Stevely, shared a memory he had of John, where a few years ago, they both went up the mountain in Coal Creek, on horseback, where they found remnants of our Grandfather’s cabin, and found an old mug sitting there. Rob took a photo of that, where there is an Orb in the photo.
John’s natural love of curling, golfing, fishing, and hunting, was learned from his mother and dad, (Dan and Martha) who also were avid curlers and golfers throughout the years.
John will be sadly missed and remembered lovingly by myself, and his many surviving cousins, and one surviving Aunt, Doreen Chester of Delta, BC.
May he rest in peace. My condolences to Beryl and family, and Shirley and all of her family. Thinking of you all at this sad time.
Cousin Cheryl Leite (nee Stevely)
Salmon Arm, BC
