Pat (WALGREN) Devries
Family:
Two daughters, one son, all married with children. Our son, Darrell and sons-in-law, Randy and Peter, manage the family reinforced plastics manufacturing business. Yes, we believe in nepotism, but that is one of the perks of having a private company. Eldest daughter, Dawne and daughter-in-law, Sue, are stay-at-home Moms, while our youngest, Lisa Rae works for Canada Immigration. All have families, which means we have 7 grandchildren ranging in age from four to twelve years of age. We see them here on the Lower Mainland, but the best time is when they come to Queen’s Bay to stay at the old family “camp” each summer. It is a short walk down the road from we built our retirement home on the old Merz’s Antler’s Lodge property. As my husband says, “we get to see them and enjoy them, but then they go home with those that brought them.” I don’t think he really means it, but he heard a tour bus driver say it in New Zealand and kind of took a fancy to it.
Present activities:
Done with work, and for the time being, we don’t stay in one place long enough to do volunteer activities. Love our golfing in the summer in the Kootenay's, getting together with friends (both old and new) at the lake and spending time with the family on their holidays. We have traveled extensively during the past 25 years or so. May go back to New Zealand one more time (saving Aeroplan points) and still would like to see South Africa if we have the energy still in the bag to do a trip like that. Look forward to some time in the sun in Maui every March. When we get REALLY old we will settle down with a Sheltie (dog), a cat or two and perhaps get back to volunteer work.
Work before retirement:
Peter and I bought a reinforced plastics company called Marine Plastics in the early 1970s. Our products have been numerous, but in recent years we have evolved to mostly manufacturing fiberglass truck parts for Freightliner, Kenworth and Western Star trucks in the US. I was involved in the office work early on, but once we could afford to hire someone, I rather pursued volunteer work with my kids’ schools and later with the Burnaby Art Gallery.
Some favourite memories:
I have to honestly say that my best memories of those days come from remembering my friendships of the day, most of which I have held onto until the present. The fun times at Lakeside Park in the summer, at the skating rink in the winter, and bobsledding behind Frank Waters’s delivery van all come to mind. Strangely, none of them have to do with school.
There is much water under the bridge during the past 50 years, but I well remember what fun we had at our 20th reunion. I have been fortunate also to attend all of the successive reunions so will once again look forward to renewing old friendships and getting caught up.
See you there.
