Obituary of George William Buxton
George, a gentle, quiet man of few, but meaningful, words passed away with his family by his side. He was born in Consort, Alta, the oldest of 8, to Ellen and Clarence Buxton. The family moved to Woodpecker, south of Prince George, in 1938.
He began working with survey crews after graduating from high school and through hard work, studies at UBC and BCIT and determination received his Commission as Canada Land Surveyor in 1982. He worked for the PGE, later BC Railway, on the extension of the rail line north from Quesnel, the line to Dawson Creek through the Pine Pass, for the CN rail line from Terrace to Kitimat, the Diefenbaker’s “Roads to Resources Program” in the Northwest Territories. He met and married his wife in Yellowknife, N.W.T. One can say that he helped open up the Canadian North to the rest of the world. After working in Ottawa from 1961 for the Federal Government he transferred to Vancouver in 1966 surveying Crown land, mostly in Northern B.C.’s isolated communities and First Nations Reserves. He was a strong advocate for the rights of the Indigenous Peoples. Before retiring in 1991 he was Head of Legal Surveys.
He enjoyed his hobbies of reading, photography, painting, genealogy, woodworking, etc. but, most of all X-county skiing, camping and canoeing. His wife and children shared his love for the outdoors. He was a dedicated leader with Scouts Canada for 20 years in Port Coquitlam.
Old age set in, adventure turned to a move to Maple Ridge, relaxed RV-ing, travel and river cruising in Europe, cruises in the Pacific, touring Canada from Haida Gwaii to Cape Spear, Nfld. and Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T.
George will be remembered as an intelligent, always organized, well informed, principled, never late, but also loving husband and father. The world needs more men like him.
Missing him very much are his wife Doris of 64 years, children Andy and Cathy (Jim), grandchildren Cayley (Rob) and Patrick, sisters Betty and Marlene (Bob), many nieces, nephews and cousins.
If you so wish, a donation to the Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation in memory of George would be appreciated.