Raymond James Worley

29 June, 2024, 84 years old. 

Just before dawn, Ray reached the end of a long and fulfilling trail. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth, son Geoff, daughter Anne (Piotr), granddaughter Helena, brother Bruce (Heather) and sister Linda (Robert) and their families.

Please join us for Ray’s Celebration of Life.

When:   August 26, 2024 starting at 5 p.m.

Where: The Teahouse in Stanley Park, Vancouver

What:    Appetizers, Remembrances, Dinner & Sunset

We plan to also post a recording on-line.

Update August 07. Space in the teahouse is almost full.  

Please e-mail [email protected] if you have not been contacted by us and would like to be notified about any additional spaces or receive a link to the on-line recording.

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Memories of Ray

Ray was known for his ready wit, prodigious memory, and love of exploring. His career and volunteering reflected his profound sense of social and environmental justice. Ray was born in Wellington, New Zealand and spent much of his youth in Christchurch, NZ, where he met and married Elizabeth. He studied history, geography and literature at University of Canterbury and also obtained a teacher’s certificate. After traveling the world and living and teaching in NZ, Canada, England and Germany, Ray settled with his family in Vernon, B.C., Canada where he taught English and German, primarily at Clarence Fulton Secondary. In the 1980’s Ray became involved in the Vernon Teachers Association and the B.C. Teachers Federation. This work eventually took him and Elizabeth to Vancouver where he filled successive roles of Vice President, President and Chief Negotiator for the BCTF.

Ray joined the Vernon Naturalists and Vernon Outdoors Clubs in the 1970s. He helped advocate for the establishment of Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park, and was a founding member and President of Friends of Kalamalka Lake Park. Ray spent countless volunteer hours in the park, coordinating trail building and surveying/educating park users. In 2018, he received a B.C. Park’s Volunteer Legacy Award for his work; this was among his proudest achievements.

Ray remained fit and active for 8 decades, enjoying the uplands of western Canada. His struggles with dementia cast a shadow over his last few years, but he still enjoyed time with family and friends, and showing care workers Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park. Special thanks to the many caring staff at Shylo Home Care and the wonderful team at Mount Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Ward 1 South.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Friends of Kalamalka Lake Park (www.kalamalkapark.ca) or the Alzheimers Society (https://alzheimer.ca/en)