January 24, 1927 - July 11, 2018
John was born in La Salle, Illinois to Alexander and Margaret (nee Shankland) McGarvie on January 24th, 1927.
The family immigrated to Canada in August 1934 though Port of Osoyoos and made their home in Ellison, B.C. John helped his parents on the family farm for many years while attending school.
John was conscripted into the U.S. Army in 1946 and was stationed in Hawaii. When John left the Army in the fall of 1947 he returned to the family farm. The family moved to Winfield, B.C. in 1948.
John suffered from allergies and was unable to stay on the farm so he became a Canadian Customs Officer on May 1st, 1952. His first port was Osoyoos, he then moved to Cascade in 1953 and was there until 1960 then he was put in charge of the Port of Midway from 1960 until his retirement on May 3rd, 1990 after 38 years of service.
After John's retirement he moved to Winfield, B.C. and lived with his sister Helen until he moved to Creston, B.C. in 1996.
John was a member of the Masonic Lodge for over 60 years.
John Married Margaret Mitchell on August 22nd, 1950. They had five children John Robert Alexander (February 1953), Richard James (September 1954), Heather Catherine (February 1959), Jennifer Margaret (August 1964), and Carole-Ann (December 1966).
John was predeceased by his parents, father Alexander in 1964, mother Margaret in 1975, his wife Margaret in 1979 and his sister Helen in 2014.
John is survived by his children Jack (Margaret), Rick (Lynda), Heather (Dennis), Jennifer, Carole-Ann (Geoff), his seven grandchildren Joel (Valerie), Mickey (Anna), Jason (Leslie), Kristy, Kelsey, Kymberly, and Cameron, and his five great grandchildren Olivia, Sophie, Stella, Matthew and Nixon.
There will be no service by request.
GF Oliver Funeral Chapel