February 25, 1928 - March 27, 2022
In loving memory ~
We announce with sadness the recent death of Clifford Edward Holland on March 27, 2022.
Cliff was born in Nelson on February 25, 1928, to Margaret (nee Cooper) and Joseph Holland. His dad was a harness maker and WWI veteran. Cliff grew up in an era of honest hard work and austerity, with his older brothers Geoff and Bill. In 1939 at the age of 11, Cliff was too young to follow his brothers into the WWII war effort with the Canadian Air Force, staying at home until he finished school.
Shortly after that he applied for and got a job as a truck driver, without mentioning he didn't know how to drive. That weekend he borrowed a friend's truck to drive circles in an empty field, to build confidence for his new job on Monday morning.
Some months later, at the urging of his mother he went to technical school in Edmonton to study refrigeration. Soon after that he made the best decision of his life by proposing to his future wife and lifetime companion, Patricia Myrene (nee) Dahl. After a short time in Nelson, Hope and Merritt, the growing family moved to Lethbridge to open a business in Lethbridge Refrigeration.
Pat and Cliff had four boys, Dave, Scott, Dan, and Kasey. For a few years Pat and Cliff owned a small cattle ranch in the shadow of Chief Mountain, east of Waterton National Park. It was a wonderful place to grow up. They built a small cottage there, and made lifetime friends with the Jones family.
With a combination of wise investing and a humble lifestyle, Pat and Cliff were able to retire to the Parksville community just after he turned 52. The first year was spent building a new home with his teenage boys, teaching each of us carpentry and life skills we've never forgotten. When that home was finished he found work with Macmillan Blodel for a few years, until the idea of a new home was seeded. He built his last home in Nanoose Bay, looking out on the Strait of Georgia, where he and Pat lived until now. The sons went on to have their own children and grandchildren.
Through the years Cliff was a Shriner, pilot, marksman, fisherman, woodworker, horseman, bridge player, square dancer, and a lifelong dog lover. As longstanding members of the Good Sam club, Pat and Cliff loved traveling in their RV.
Cliff was a self-made man, intelligent and wise, open to new ideas, not afraid to try something new. He once said that he has something to learn from every person, it was just a matter of finding it. We like to think that all of his sons took on those same life habits.
Gracious thanks to the staff at Stanford Seniors Village for their kind and thoughtful care.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your local SPCA.
A celebration of life will be arranged for family and close friends at a later date.
YATES MEMORIAL SERVICES 250-248-5859
"Lives Cherished and Celebrated"