Wayne Raymond Ross With heavy hearts, we announce the loss of our dad and grandpa, Wayne Raymond Ross, who passed away suddenly at his home in Calgary on February 1, 2025, at the age of 78. This notice comes later than usual, as we took time to honour his memory.
Wayne was born on February 15, 1946, in North Vancouver, and spent his earliest years at a remote logging camp in Jervis Inlet before moving with his family to Burnaby, and later New Westminster.
As a young man, when an uncle one day asked if he knew how to run a backhoe, Wayne confidently said yes, then set about learning in a hurry. He went on to take a heavy equipment operator’s course in Braidwood, Illinois. The training led to his first major job on a construction site, where his father was superintendent, and it sparked a lifelong career in excavating.
In the spring of 1979, Wayne made his home on the Sunshine Coast, where he worked as an operator and served proudly with the Roberts Creek Volunteer Fire Department. He valued the proximity to the ocean and the lifestyle it offered. Fishing was one of Wayne’s favourite pastimes. He regularly brought his children along, which made the outings more memorable – and meant a few more fish for the table. His father occasionally joined them as well, making fishing a three-generation tradition. Wayne was respected for his strong work ethic and known for his easygoing nature.
When Wayne moved to Calgary for work in the late 1990s, he remained closely connected with his children through frequent phone calls and visits. In later years, they began meeting in sunny destinations, sometimes in Cuba with Julia and other times in Mexico with Joel, creating some of their best memories. Those trips played to Wayne’s love of lounging in the sun with a good book, a habit he carried from his own backyard to wherever their adventures took them.
Wayne is survived by his children Julia (Mike) and Joel; grandchildren Emmett, Liam, and Franklin; sister Marlene (Russ); nephew Dan (Grace), along with many cousins and several close friends. He will be remembered for his warmth, humour, and steady presence, and will be deeply missed.
