Harvie Lynne Walker
Celebration of Life
Friday, October 16, 2026
1:00 PM
Canadian Memorial United Church
1825 West 16th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5W 2Z3
See on Google Maps
The complete recording of the Celebration of Life service will also be available upon request after the service. Please send an email request if interested in viewing to lafondfamily@telus.net.
Obituary for Harvie Lynne Walker
June 5, 1931 - January 31, 2025
Harvie at age 93 passed away peacefully at New Vista Care Home surrounded by his loving family. Harvie, also known as Mickey, was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. Harvie was predeceased by his son David Walker, parents Edgar and Florence (Bassett) Walker, brother John (Ruby) Walker and sister Shelagh (Willard) Loewen. He will be missed by his loving wife Doris (Reeder) Walker, daughter Alison (David) Lafond, grandchildren Emily (Nikolas) and Joshua Lafond. He is survived by his sister Charlotte (Jim) McFarland and his nieces and nephews.
Harvie was born in Penticton and grew up in the Okanagan, spending much of his life outdoors camping, hiking, fishing and skiing. Harvie was also very involved with the Boy Scouts where he met the love of his life, Doris who he was married to for 69 years. After graduating from high school Harvie worked at Grant King Men’s Wear in Penticton. At age 28, Harvie made the decision to move to Vancouver and attend UBC where he completed a Bachelor and Master Degree in Education. Harvie and Doris eventually settled and raised a family in Vancouver. Harvie worked at numerous schools within the Vancouver School Board, but spent the majority of his career at Britannia Secondary pursuing his interests in Social Studies and the International Baccalaureate Program while taking on a leadership role with youth and his colleagues. He retired in 1994. Harvie also took time off from the classroom to contribute to other areas of Education. Harvie worked as a Faculty Associate at SFU and Sessional Instructor at UBC. Harvie was a published author and also worked with the Ministry of Education. He was a well known curriculum developer in both Social Studies and Environmental Education. Working for the Ministry of Education during Expo 86, Harvie toured schools throughout the Province speaking about and developing curriculum for BC. Harvie was also instrumental in developing and writing an educational program for the Port of Vancouver. Harvie’s passion for the outdoors led him to become a co-founding member of Simon Fraser University’s Summer Institute in Environmental Studies for Education. He served as a long term executive member of the BC Social Studies Provincial Specialist Association and received a Distinguished Service Award, “For Outstanding Contribution to the Profession of Teaching in the Field of Social Studies”. But first and foremost, Harvie took pride in being a classroom teacher.
Harvie’s passion for the outdoors led him to Cathedral Lakes where on horseback he was one of the early pioneers involved in the bushwacking and clearing of the trails that led to the Cathedral Lakes Provincial Park in Keremeos, BC. To this day, there is still an original cabin named the “Harvie Walker Cabin”. Harvie was also involved in the trail mapping and restoration of the Hudson's Bay Company Brigade Trails. He also spent time in the earlier years helping to develop ski runs and better roads to the Apex Alpine ski area. Harvie’s earlier love and dedication to scouting helped to prepare him for his diverse outdoor environmental contributions. Harvie also enjoyed many weeks and summers at McQueen Lake and Kamloops teaching Environmental Education to SFU students where many lifetime friends and connections were fostered. In his retirement years, Harvie enjoyed many hours with his friends both fly fishing and ice fishing. He also spent time with his buddies doing what he referred to as “Walkies” which entailed taking regular walks along Boundary Bay and the Fraser River.
Harvie and Doris moved to New Westminster in 2003 to be closer to his family. They bought the house next door to their daughter Alison, husband David and grandchildren Emily and Joshua. Harvie took such pride and joy in watching his grandchildren grow and mature. He was a very involved and hands-on grandfather who was proud of their accomplishments. He was extremely delighted that both grandchildren followed in his footsteps and both became teachers. Family and friends were also always a top priority whether it was visiting siblings, his parents in the earlier years, or having his niece Connie drop by for a tea. Harvie always made you feel special and welcomed in his home and you rarely left his house without a jar of jam, pickles or home grown vegetables tucked under your arm.
Harvie was a dedicated, loving and supportive father. A father who could fix anything, be it both physical or emotional. A teddy bear with a soft heart who would come to your rescue no matter what it involved. As a daughter you knew no matter what happened, he would be there for you. Alison was honoured to be able to help look after his health needs in the last few years and it will always be a cherished time to remember. Harvie was also an incredible father- in-law who was there when you needed him, whether it was building furniture, renovating or salvaging materials from old buildings he always showed up with tools in hand, ready to help. David always said, “Harv made living next door to your father-in-law easy!”
Harvie’s love for Doris was constant, unwavering and always evident. They were inseparable and their respect and dedication for each other was truly inspirational. Harvie passed away holding Doris’s hand content and at peace that she was with him right until his very last breath.
Harvie loved gardening, canning, fishing, doing crossword puzzles, walks and hikes with friends; he was also a master woodworker. Harvie loved to tell a story and was a talented writer and poet who wrote and published several personal memoirs of his life growing up in the Okanagan. Harvie will be remembered for his adventurous spirit and love for the environment as well as for his wonderful sense of humour, laughter, smile, generosity and gentle soul.
Rest in peace, Harvie!
Ascent
I climb upon the mountain’s final peak,
Surrounded by endless sky,
I drink in its fullness,
Mountains in every direction,
Valleys of sparkling streams,
The peace of nature flows into me,
As sunshine flows into flowers,
The wind blows its gentle freshness,
When yesterday’s storms have vent their fury,
I am at perfect peace.
Written by,
Harvie Walker, November 1976
We would like to thank the 5th floor at New Vista Care Home for all of their extraordinarily kind, compassionate and empathetic care over the last fourteen months. We are so appreciative and cannot thank them enough!
In lieu of flowers, donations would be welcome in memory of Harvie Walker to the Bassett House Museum in Okanagan Falls (Harvie’s Grandparents home). e-Transfer to thegoodfolks@okanaganfallsheritage.org or cheque to OK Falls Heritage and Museum Society PO Box 323 Okanagan Falls, BC VOH 1R0.
A Joint Celebration of Life for both Harvie and Doris Walker will be held on Friday, October 16, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at Canadian Memorial United Church, 1825 West 16th Avenue, Vancouver, BC. Reception to follow.
Future family contact may be reached at lafondfamily@telus.net.
The Way We Were: The Life and Times of Doris and Harvie Walker
Please note the following link to access Harvie and Doris’s memoirs, written by Harvie Walker, titled “The Way We Were: The Life and Times of Doris and Harvie Walker.”
Musings of a Closet Poet: a Collection of Harvie Walker’s Poetry
These musings have been written over the past forty years. They represent some of the writer's thoughts and ideas - some optimistic, some anguished, and hopefully, some even inspired. May his words mean for you, whatever you wish. We hope you find some enjoyment, in what they say.
In Loving Memory
Condolence Messages
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