Porky (Gerry) Dexter

 August 25, 1941 – April 4, 2021

The family of Porky (Gerald) Dexter announces with heavy heart and great sadness, his passing on April 4, 2021 at the age of 79.   Beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, he will be greatly missed.  Porky was born and raised in North Battleford where, as a young man, he met, married, and devoted his life to, his wife of 58 years, Therese.  Porky and Therese had three children in North Battleford, one of whom died in infancy.

 Porky’s favorite activities as he grew up centered around sports.  He was a great fan of playing which ever sport the season dictated, from downhill to water skiing, and hockey to baseball.  That love of sports followed him into adulthood where he encouraged that love in his children by mentoring them as a coach, assistant or even as the driver to the event.  Porky’s favorite place to be while in Saskatchewan was at Jackfish Lake.  The cabin that the whole family loved spending the summer at started as his grandfathers, then his fathers, then went to him and his brother.  Then their young families continued the tradition of summers at the lake.

 Porky was a charming man who loved being around people.  He was able to put that great personality trait to use in the places he worked through the years.  His unlimited loyalty showed in his resume as he stayed at the jobs he chose for long periods of time.  He spent many years at Hudson Bay Wholesale, and outlasted multiple owners of the Ford dealership in North Battleford, where many knew him as the Service Advisor.

Porky and Therese retired and moved to Kelowna 20 years ago this year.  Porky was only able to sit at home for about 5 years when he needed something to keep him busy and to get a people fix.  He returned to work by becoming the shuttle driver at Kelowna Chrysler.  In the 12 years he performed that service he often entertained Therese with stories of the people he met from all walks of life. As he could talk to anyone, he often got their life story in the short time he had with the people he drove.  Such as the gentleman from Japan who told him that he was a pilot in the war, but felt he wasn’t a very good one as they were supposed to be kamikazes!   Another client of the Chrysler dealership, an East Indian, came back to visit Porky and let him know he had bought a Ford and would not be seeing him.  He wanted Porky to know how much he appreciated that Porky had treated him no differently from everyone else.

Porky had a passion for custom cars that he indulged by collecting car magazines, books, and models.   He would travel to any custom car shows he could get to.  His collecting spread to a large number of areas including guns and, a due to his father’s history as a railroad conductor, CN railroad memorabilia.  He was also a voracious reader and had a very large collection of books on a variety of subjects.

Porky is survived by his loving wife Therese, their son Sean (his wife Chrissy and four children Noah, Josh, Jaedyn, and Rylee), their granddaughter Brooklyne (her boyfriend Luke), and his brother Raymond (and his daughters Lana and Carol) and Candyce’s husband Curtis.  He is predeceased, and now wrapped in the loving arms of his beloved daughters Candyce and infant daughter Heather, his parents Art and Fern Dexter, sister- in- law Vivian Dexter, and mother-in-law Dehlia Verret.

It was Porky’s wish to be cremated and there will be no funeral service.  In lieu of flowers please send donations in Porky’s name to the Canadian Lung Association (www.lung.ca) or the charity of your choice.

Porky was a gentle man whom all admired.  Words do not convey how much he will be forever missed.

Arrangements in care of Everden Rust Funeral Services.

West Kelowna Arrangement Center.  250-768-8925.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.everdenrust.com.

• Date : 2021-04-04