Obituary of Patrick McPhail

Patrick McPhail, a lifelong resident of Dawson Creek, BC, passed away on Thursday, March 12, 2020, in Dawson Creek at the age of 61 years. 

“Speed bonnie boat, like a bird on a wing, onward the sailors cry. Carry the lad that’s born to be king, over the sea to skye.”

Every night of my childhood spent with him, my father would sing that song as a lullaby. Patrick McPhail was a beautiful singer. We sang in the car together during long drives, and he would tell me stories about his childhood plan to move to San Francisco to be a singer. During one of those car rides, we were about to cross the Alberta border, and I told him that I was going to hold my breath until we were in another province. It was a quiet, flat, stretch of highway and he stopped the car and looked over at me grinning. He was silly in an evil sort of way, and his sense of humor never ceased to be black and occasionally (or frequently?) offensive. He never seemed to have a shortage of friends, and as a pre-teen I eventually took to pulling him by the ear when we were walking down the street because I was tired of stopping to talk to everybody. He knew every Tim Hortons between Dawson Creek and Vancouver Island where I grew up, and he taught me the joy of dipping french fries in ice cream. The world could be a difficult place for him, and he found peace and solace in nature during those times. Memories of him are irrevocably linked for me to our family cabin, out on the boat, sitting and listening to the sound of the wind in the poplar trees. He taught me silliness, he shared with me and encouraged a passion for music, and he loved to watch the dazzling beauty of a Peace Country sunset. Peace be with you Patrick, always yours, always with love.

With respect to Patrick’s wishes, no formal funeral service will be held. Interment will be at a later date.

Though the waves heave

Soft will ye sleep

Ocean’s a royal bed

Rocked in the deep

Flora will keep

Watch by your weary head

Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing

Onward the sailors cry

Carry the lad that’s born to be king

Over the sea to skye

Sir Edward Boulton

Very Respectfully Reynars Funeral Home & Crematorium