Obituary of Eugene David Embree

David Eugene Embree was born November 15, 1927 in St. Boswells, Saskatchewan to Joseph and Alice Embree. He was the ninth of ten children. The depression and drought conditions forced the family to move north to Emberville, Saskatchewan in 1934 where a new farm was established. Gene grew up on this farm and when he was 15 years old, went to southern Saskatchewan to join his older brothers and work in the construction trade. Eventually he ventured out on his own as Gene's Workshop doing floor sanding and building cupboards. This led him to Alberta in 1950 where he worked on various projects with a construction company from Edmonton. This employment took him from Drumheller, Athabasca, High Prairie, Grande Prairie, and eventually, Dawson Creek. Some of his family and friends from Northern Saskatchewan had moved to Little Prairie, west of Dawson Creek and he decided to join them as there was available employment. He married Camille in April of 1956 and they traveled to the far north where they built their home and raised a family of six. Gene worked on many projects in the community. The first was building bunkhouses for the B.C.R. crews as the railroad was on its way. Then Titus Construction hired him to work on the hotel building. He was instrumental in building the first community hall. The first Bank of Commerce in Chetwynd, 1958-59 was one of Gene's projects and the company sent him up to Whitehorse to do another one. Eventually he hired on with Irwin Homes in Dawson Creek, then B.C. Hydro Construction, traveling to many different locations in Western B.C. Through all this he also designed and built his own machinery (a welding course aided him on this) and eventually established a business of his own, Echo Wood Products, manufacturing wood byproducts (for local sawmills) survey stakes, mining wedges, and fence pickets, etc. Gene was always happy to have folks come by for a visit and quite often they would end up in the workshops. He was willing to help anyone who needed a bit of welding or something put together. Eugene passed away in Chetwynd on December 14, 2007 at the age of 80 years. He is survived by his wife, Camille, children Matthew (Cindy), Mark (Suzanne), Tammy, Lee Anne (Douglas Evans), Karen and Randal (Jennifer),13 grandchildren, six great grandchildren, one brother Joe (Chetwynd), one sister, Irene (Kamloops), and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service was held on Friday, December 21st, 2007 at 1:00 pm at the Baptist Church in Chetwynd, B.C. Pastor Bill Evans officiated, interment will be at a later date. Very Respectfully Reynars Funeral Home and Crematorium