Bruce Peter Rutherford

Bruce had a short period of treatment for cancer before he passed, surrounded by his girls, Margot, Morgen and Abby. Bruce was survived by a very tight core of family: his wife, Margot; daughters, Morgen and Abby; son-in-law, Jody; grandchildren, Fiona and Declan; as well as his sisters, Wendie (Jim), and Rita (Grant) and his many nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind a tight knit group of beloved friends. Bruce and Margot settled in rural Courtenay in the early 1970's to raise a few horses. Bruce had many occupations during his life: Burnaby municipal works labourer, professional musician, millworker, screen print worker, commercial fisherman, farrier and notary public. He also enjoyed years of team roping until his horse, Quincy, stopped having fun. Bruce then invested in a mountain bike and took to the trails with joy in his heart, and when bikes were hard-tail and weighed a ton. He was dubbed the nickname "Bike God" by his mountain biking friends and even had a trail built and named after him for his 50th birthday. He had a wonderful sense of humour and a generous spirit. Bruce reconnected with skiing in his later years. Some of his favourite memories were of weekends spent up Mt. Cain with his daughter Abby, their yearly ski trips to the interior of BC, and teaching his grandchildren on the bunny hill at Mt. Washington. Bruce was surrounded by love and was able to speak to as many of his friends and family as he could on the phone prior to his chosen date and time of death. He was so kind hearted and he will be well remembered with love and admiration by those who knew him. Bruce was a regular supporter of Cumberland Community Forest Society, Box 1239, Cumberland, BC V0R 1S0, and the family know he would appreciate donations in support of this wonderful organization in his memory. No service is being planned at this time.