December 24, 1947 - January 16, 2023
Our beloved Alex (Poppa), the Scottish Volkswagen guy, passed away at the age of 75 on January 16th after fighting a battle with lung cancer and COPD over the past two years.
He will be deeply missed by Nicola, his only child, and her husband Garth McKeil and by his grandson Calum, his only grandson, as well as his bestest friend Kathleen and his partner Susan James.
Alex and his wee family of Kathleen and Nicola emigrated from Scotland over to BC, Canada to join family in 1972 with not much more than a tool box containing his mechanic tools tucked inside one small crate of belongings. They found their way to the Sunshine Coast in 1978, along with other family members, and settled in Roberts Creek. He shortly thereafter joined the Roberts Creek Fire Hall of which he remained a member for many years. Being a mechanic by trade, he and Kathleen bought and operated European Motors in Wilson Creek beside Russ, who ran the Chevron Gas station and body work side. When Chevron packed up, he went on to work for Mazda as a mechanic for a few years before ultimately working from his home shop in Halfmoon Bay. He was well known as the “Volkswagen guy” and fixed many a Westfalia, including our own family ’72, ’74 and ’81 Westy’s. Many knew of Dad’s great sense of humour or may have faced the wrath of his "grumpy old Scotsman" side but one thing we’ll all miss, was his burly, loud and infectious laugh. He was the foundation of our family, our protector and loved us all fiercely, as we did him, and will be greatly missed. A small gathering is planned for some time this summer to raise a glass of scotch to the legend that was my father, Alex. You were one of a kind Poppa.
