Peter Lawson Hepher
December 25, 1920 ~ November 6, 2015
Peter Lawson Hepher was born at Boswell, BC on December 25, 1920. He received his early education there and did three years of high school by correspondence. He attended Vancouver College for the final two years, obtaining his senior matriculation in 1940.
In August, 1940, he enlisted in the Canadian Army, having memorized the eye chart to compensate for having lost the sight in one eye during his teens. He served in Canada and Britain until October, 1945, when he was discharged with the rank of sergeant. While in Britain he married Mary Anderson, daughter of a childhood friend of his mother’s. In 1946 he enrolled at the University of British Columbia, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1949. In 1950 he graduated from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Journalism Degree.
Peter worked for the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix as an editorial writer and editorial page editor from 1950 to 1956, when he moved to Lethbridge as editor of the Lethbridge Herald’s editorial page. In 1960 he was transferred to Calgary as associate editor and editorial page editor of The Albertan, where he remained for 20 years. When The Albertan was taken over by the Sun newspaper chain, he resigned and moved to the Calgary Herald as Senior Editorial Writer. He retired in 1985 but continued to write a weekly column for the Herald for another year. During this time he volunteered for the University of Calgary Medical Faculty, assisting in the selection of candidates for medical school.
Peter and Mary moved to Creston in 1991.Mary was in poor health, which continued to deteriorate until her eventual death. The last few years of her life were quite lonely for Peter as she was in extended care, and unable to recognize or respond to him.
In December 2005 Peter married Anne Page, whom he had known through local committee work for some time. In Anne he found a kindred soul, and together they actively served the community up until the weeks before his passing. They enjoyed many adventures together, including trips to Great Britain, Egypt, Greece, and Alaska. Their most recent trip was to New Zealand in 2013, when Peter was 92! Anne’s family accepted and adopted Peter as their own, for which he was always humbly grateful.
Peter was an active member of the Save Our Community Coalition, the Anglican and United Churches, the Creston-Kootenay Foundation, the Community Response Network, and the Creston Valley Community Housing Society. He believed strongly in these organizations, and was a willing and energetic worker on committees, always ready to contribute his ideas, ideals and resources with common sense, wisdom, and compassion. His community work was recognized in 2014, when he became Creston’s Citizen of the Year. He was instrumental in having badminton revived under the auspices of the Recreation Centre, served as supervisor for a number of years, and continued to play until in his eighties. His other major interests included community service, history, and political science.
“The Lake” figured prominently in Peter’s life, in three distinct stages. He was born in Boswell, and lived there until early adulthood. After decades on the prairies, he and Mary bought a cabin in Gray Creek which became a well-used and much loved retreat for his family. And in marrying Anne, he became part of the Page cabin family, enjoying many weeks and weekends with Anne and her family over the last decade.
Peter was predeceased by his parents, William Lawson and Kathleen Hepher of Boswell, and a son, Paul.
He is survived by his wife, Anne Hepher of Creston; son Ian (JoAnn) of Lethbridge, Alberta; grandson Robin (Corinne) and great-grandson Skye of Lethbridge; and grandson Michael (Anie), great-grandson Finn and great-grand-daughter Wren of Fernie, BC., as well as the following Page step-children; Gary (Debra) and their children Meredith, Jacquelyn, and Meghan; Garth (Christine) and their children Nicole, Tara, Tessa, Nathan and Andrew; Leslie (Chuck) and their children Simone and Kira; and Ken (Lisa) and their children Kathryn and Quinn.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday November 14, 2015 at 3:00 pm at Christ Church Anglican, 422 7th Ave N.,
Creston, B.C., with Pastor Harry Haberstock officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to Creston Valley Community Housing Society, 215 25th Ave S. Creston, BC, V0B 1G5 (Attention: Heather More)