A collection of memories from dear friends
Barbara and David Enns died on the morning of December 14, when their house was swept down the mountain in a landslide. They built lives for themselves and for their children and grandchildren in Lions Bay, and are sorely missed.
Their loss has provoked widespread sadness, and many questions yet unanswered. Today The Watershed shares a collection of memories from friends of Barb and Dave.
From John and Rose Dudley:
We have known David and Barbara since they moved to the Village in 1972, and were always impressed by David's willingness to embrace a variety of totally unrelated jobs with great enthusiasm.
When he arrived here he was in the advertising business, followed by a stint at logging, sailing across the Pacific as a deckhand on a tugboat, before trying his hand at building a water slide park in Seattle.
When this didn't do so well he was undaunted and built another one in Reading, California, where he spent several summers living there and managing it.
He and Barbara lived in four other houses in the village before finding their dream home, high above Magnesia Creek 30 years ago. He quickly turned his hand to carpentry and transformed it into an idyllic hideaway in the forest. His skill at baking and bread-making impressed all of us, with each creation having even more twirls and twists than the previous one.
When I asked him to create some benches for the Centennial Trail, he felled a nearby fir tree, dried the wood and there are now four of them in different spots along the trail.
Barbara was one of those incredible people who would never complain or say a bad word against anyone. She was always the first to help someone in need and happy to work quietly behind the scenes where help was needed.
The older she got the fitter she became, running the annual Sun Run with Rose for the last 15 years and good at shaming her running partners into running twice a week, regardless of the weather.
The loss of David and Barbara, their home and all their possessions in a matter of seconds is hard to comprehend, they will be greatly missed by all of us who have known them for over half a century.
From Lena Cuthbertson:
Barb was an inaugural member of the Lions Bay Ramblers, a local running group started 15 years ago. Our group was later renamed the Lions Bay Runners, then the Lions Bay Racers, as Barb (and Rose Dudley) were determined they would someday make the podium at the Sun Run!
If you do the math, while “pounding the pavement” along Mountain Drive each Sunday, we spent over 750 hours sharing the (breathless!) stories about “the days of our lives”.
What stands out for me was Barb’s passion for her hubby, her family, her friends and her neighbours … for life! In my culture we say, “May her memory / May his memory … be a blessing”.
We are called upon to keep the legacy of those we have lost alive in our hearts and our minds. I believe we found kindred spirits when we started running together 15 years ago … and I know Barb will be running with us in spirit every Sunday going forward.
To Barb and Dave’s family, I share words (slightly edited) by Glinda (Wicked) …
I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn,
And we are led to those who help us most to grow, if we let them
And we help them in return.
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true, but I know we are who we are today
Because we knew ... Barb and Dave.
My deepest condolences to Barb and Dave’s family and to all who loved them. Our collective hearts are broken. May their memories be a blessing
From David Butler:
Just a couple of weeks before the landslide, Barb made a delicious stew for myself and Jeannie. When I stopped by their place to return the pot, Barb was out, but Dave and I sat on the porch with a beer, sharing memories.
We both belonged to the same running group, and we all used to get together, just enjoying each other's company. For years we attended the Dickens Christmas Lunch in Stanley Park and then over at the Vancouver Tennis Club together. And once we became the No-Longer-Running club, we'd still meet up on Fridays at the Taphouse in West Van for a beer and a chat. Dave used to ride in on the e-bike that he made himself.
I remember Barb as the most kind-hearted of people, and always enjoyed a laugh with Dave. They will be missed.
Please add any memories you would like to share of Barbara and David Enns
to the comment box below,
or by email at editor@lionsbaywatershed.ca
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