Edward Ames McFadden

Edward Ames McFadden was born on December 29,1926 in Bashaw, Alberta and passed away on August 1, 2020. He showed an early aptitude for sports, engaging in baseball and hockey, and later, in coaching. Graduating from high school in Bashaw, his first job was as a supervising teacher at the Matlock school and later hired on with the Hudson Bay co. , who, at the age of nineteen became their youngest agent to run a trading post; first, Lower Post in B.C., then, Shamattawa in northern Manitoba. Sometime after this, he worked on as a fireman on a steam locomotive, running around central Alberta. He chose not to make a career in railroading, but retained a lifelong interest of steam power. Around 1951 he worked on a seismic crew out of Bashaw and later at Cardston. His main passion in life was always in “art”, first sketching and painting, and later turning to sign writing, as a more practical  way to make a living. In Calgary he worked at sign writing for some years with what was then known as Hook Signs, and studied commercial art  and fine arts at S.A.I.T.  All through the years each of our family received hand sketched or painted envelopes with letters, usually depicting what he was engaged in at that time, which we all retain and treasure to  this day.

He was always an avid outdoorsman, hiking and canoeing, remaining active until just the last few years. He also had traveled extensively, not as a “tourist”, but more likely as a “backpacker”, lodging at hostels mostly. This included places like Egypt, Israel, and other Midwestern and European countries (even to New York city once). Around 1959 he met Ruth Theed, who had recently emigrated from Britain. They married in 1961 and spent some time living around the Calgary area, later relocating to Sooke area  on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. Ruth always insisted on calling him “Edward”. They spent at least one summer cruising up the coast and around Vancouver Island in a refurbished lifeboat, which he named “Whitebrush Lake”. They also spent one winter living at Delacour, just out of Calgary. Ed drove a taxi in Calgary (which we believe probably wasn’t his favourite job!). At one point Ed took a break from work to attend the University of Notre Dame in Nelson to earn a degree in fine arts and theological studies.   They moved on in B.C., first to Osoyoos, then up to Vernon where Ed worked for the B.C. Forestry Dept. in the summer and with the Silver Star ski resort in the winter for some years. They both spent some time doing lookout duty around the Clinton area before settling in Williams Lake, first in the town and later on an acreage out east of 150 Mile House. Ed was then working full time with the forestry as a forest ranger, while moonlighting in the sign business (he related some interesting stories of encounters with loggers, hunters and such). For at least one summer he drove around central B.C with a “cherry-picker” repainting and replacing light tubes in illuminated signs, and later repainted railway and UFA Co-op tanks.  Ed returned to his hometown to live, and played a part in the refurbishment of the old “Majestic Theatre”, painting a mural on the ceiling, which can be viewed today, along with other murals he designed and painted located in the town of Bashaw, Tees, Big Valley, and Ferintosh. He lived first on a property just out of town, then to a small house in town, and finally to the Meadows seniors care facility in Bashaw. A number of years ago he realized an artist’s worst nightmare by becoming legally blind, but he always remained stoic about it. The  loss of not being able to drive, and most of all to create art, was more than a major inconvenience; however, he always retained his good humour and kind demeanour throughout. As with art, old time dancing was his passion, until recently, along with his love of music of many different genres.

 He is survived by his sister-in-law Sandra Borges (Guy) of France and their children Yann and Jeremy;  his siblings Shirley Cover, Evelyn Beckett, Mary Kinsella (Wayne), and Victor McFadden (Jean); along with nieces and nephews Colin Kinsella (Shauna), Joanne Kinsella (Mark), Ruth Kobi (Lyle), Allen Cammidge (Peggy), Margie Heidt (Ernie), and Diana Curr (Cliff). Ed is pre-deceased by his parents, Andrew (Dode) and Ruth McFadden; his wife Ruth; sister Lenette Borup of Bashaw; niece Mickie Cazes (Kim) of Bashaw; and nephew Ted Borup of Ferintosh. 

Ed will be sadly missed by his family and his many friends!

Memorial donations are gratefully accepted to the CNIB or the SPCA.

A Graveside Memorial Service will be held at the Bashaw Cemetery on Sunday, August 9 at 6:30 p.m.