Frank Haywood-Farmer

June 19, 1924 - May 30, 2022
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Frank Haywood-Farmer just weeks shy of his 98th birthday. He joined his wife Betty on May 30, 2022, on what would have been her 100th birthday.
He will be lovingly remembered by his 4 children,Sally (Bob), Frances (Rob), Cathie (Rudi), Stewart (Diana), 11 grandchildren Teresa, Karla, Patrick, Lydia, Riley, Tyler, Devin Lucas, Carson, Maxine, Jaclyn and partners and 11 great- grandchildren.
Born on June 19, 1924 Frank was one of the 8 children of Stewart and Mildred Haywood Farmer of Indian Gardens Ranch in Savona,BC. He was the last of his generation. All his early schooling was in Kamloops and Savona, to which he rode his horse, named School Bus, up and down the hill daily. While at Kam High he loved athletics, playing 5 sports at once and his favorite was baseball. After a year of Senior Matriculation in Vancouver,he enlisted in the RCAF and from August, 1943 to May 1945 completed 500 hours of flying.
Frank met Betty Wilkinson at the Flying U Guest Ranch in 1946. After their marriage on December 4,1946 they ranched at the Green Lake Meadows, for 16 years. (1946-1962). Despite lots of hard work and no power or telephones he enjoyed the lifestyle. He especially loved the animals, and in his later years told us fond stories of his dogs and horses, along with his memories of hunting, card games and baseball games at Lone Butte.
Raising a family of 4 children prompted a move to Vancouver and more schooling, where he trained at UBC to become a teacher and subsequently taught for 21 years in Richmond, BC. That's where he started his famous annual hockey pool that's still going strong today!
In 1963, Frank and Betty built a summer cabin at the Bullpasture on Green Lake to which he returned every summer until 2021. In his encouraging ways he taught his family, especially his grandchildren, horseback riding, golf, water skiing, fishing,and cribbage. Ranching stories were shared at afternoon tea on the porch with the many, many guests of the Bullpasture over the past 60 years.Frank was also a good listener and conversationalist.
In 1979, Frank and Betty fulfilled a lifetime dream of traveling around the world on a one- way ticket from west to east. Frank especially enjoyed viewing Machu Picchu and African animals.
Abbotsford was their retirement home where they loved to play bridge, bet at the harness races and of course spend their summers at Green lake. They were long term members of the 108 Mile Golf and Country Club and he even had a few trophies from the men's club tournaments. Many hours were happily spent gardening and fishing local lakes."Never throw the first fish back" was his motto.
In 2016, Frank returned to Kamloop,to reside at Kamloops Seniors Village and thoroughly enjoyed participating in the activities, especially crib games and bus trips.Thank you to the wonderful staff of KSV for helping to make these final years so enjoyable for Frank.
In the words of his grandchildren, Frank was a true cowboy gentleman and a stand up guy with strong values who modeled caring, humility and honesty.His devotion and love to his family and friends and welcoming attitude to all, is at the core of his legacy.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, July 9, 2022 at 1 p.m.- 4 p.m. at the 70 Mile Community Hall.


Additional Photo(s):