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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
PETLEY-JONES, Evan - was born in Edmonton, Alberta, the youngest of seven boys. The Jones boys were active in many sports. Evan was a member of the Alberta Junior Cricket team. Surprising from a 21st century perspective, he won a pony in an essay contest on the life of the Prince of Wales when he was a teenager. He joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1940 and served his war years in the English Channel and the North Atlantic on coast patrol or convoy duties. He was proud that he enlisted as an ordinary seaman and became an officer through a training program known as the Canadian Raleighites. After the war he rose to the rank of Commander, becoming commanding officer of a number of frigates and destroyers. He ended his naval career as Queen's Harbour Master in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Even after he was long retired, ex-servicemen would look him up, remembering him fondly. Evan served his community in many other ways. He was a Scout Master, president of the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia, president of the Historic Restoration Society of Annapolis County (Nova Scotia), long-time director of the Vancouver Island Military Museum, and the first chairman of the Nova Scotia Provincial Advisory Council on Heritage Property. He was a member of the United Services Institute of Nanaimo, Naval Officers Association of Canada, Royal Heraldry Society of Canada, Monarchist League of Canada, Branch 10 Royal Canadian Legion and a member of the congregation of St. Paul's Anglican Church.
Evan
married Jean Sunderland in May 1942 in England and was happily married for
more than sixty years. He had three sons: Evan William, Richard, and Ralph.
He is predeceased by his wife, Jean, and his son Evan William. He is
survived by his brother Mel, his daughter-in-law Anne, his sons Richard (Yane)
and Ralph (Valerie), his grandchildren Geoffrey (Anna), Gillian (Mark),
Elizabeth, Emily, Evan Harold, Alexandra (Michael), and Jack (Jennie),
great-grandchildren Owen, Bryce, Abigail, and Gabriel, and many nieces and
nephews and grand-nieces and nephews. Although he did concede that of late
he needed his friends to locate his golf ball, Evan was fortunate to have
good health until the end, golfing on the Friday before he died. Happy in
his last game as he improved on his sub par performance from his Wednesday
game. He curled at the Nanaimo Curling Club until a few years ago, retiring
as he deemed it prudent not to slip on the ice when 90. Evan's many friends
and family will miss his cheerful, considerate disposition and his sage
counsel, a quiet leader until the end.
Article from the Lunenburg Progress Enterprise, Wed. 02 Apr 1958, page 6, CHESTER - Lt.-Commander Evan Petley-Jone has arrived home from several months spent in England. (Researched by George Newbury)
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