August 21, 1939 - October 4, 2024

In Loving Memory ~

It is with great sadness, but with many wonderous memories of adventure, we honour the passing of Barry Douglas Johnston (Bernie) on October 4, 2024, in Comox, BC. Bernie was born on August 21, 1939, in Medicine Hat, Alta. to Harold and Muriel Johnston. A cowboy at heart, Bernie was one of the few people who could say they climbed into the saddle of life and rode it hard to the very end.

After graduating in the class of 1958 at Oak Bay High School in Victoria, BC he joined the RCMP. His career with the RCMP took him from coast to coast. At his posting in Smithers, BC he married Marjorie Joan Johnston (n茅e Campbell) in 1963. During their 20 plus years of marriage they had three lovely daughters. Although his kids bemoaned every new posting, they later recognized the gift of travelling to new places, meeting new people, and the abundance of new and exciting experiences.

The highlight of his career with the RCMP was his transfer to Police Dog Services where he spent 12 years as a Dogmaster and Instructor. This position took him from BC to Nfld. His love of being outdoors and working with dogs made him a perfect fit for this type of work. His final move was to Courtenay BC where he retired as Staff Sergeant. He and his wife Ann remained in Comox after his retirement.

I asked Dad where his favourite place to live was and he said Innisfail, Alta. There he bought a farm, built a house for the family, and rode his favourite horses. He became a very proficient rider. Every fall he joined his park ranger friend in the Rocky Mountains, where on horseback they would go through the backcountry and close the park ranger's cabins for the winter. Camping in the backcountry, especially on horseback, was one of Dad's favourite pastimes. When he left the prairies for the west coast, he continued backcountry hiking and camping well into his 80's.

Dad was blessed with many women in his life. He married two wonderful women, had 4 vibrant daughters/stepdaughter, and five granddaughters. Having finally become a more sensitive soul he was gifted a grandson. We think God decided Dad, being very much a man's man, required the balance of having so many women in his family to teach him that women could be strong and valuable in their own right.

Dad was a man who showed his love through activities and action. He spent the years of his children's and grandkid's youth teaching and passing on to us his love of animals and the outdoors. He taught his kids to swim, ski, and ride horses. He took us camping, hiking, canoeing, and fishing. He taught us to revere nature: to leave no trace when we left the woods and to be aware of the spectacular natural wonders that surround us. For these lessons we will be forever grateful.

In 1994 Bernie married his high school sweetheart Ann McKechnie. Bernie and Ann were both adventurous and spent much of their retirement travelling through many parts of the U.S. into Mexico, and throughout many countries in Europe and across Australia. They were both avid golfers.

Bernie will be greatly missed by his family: his wife Ann, his three daughters, Leanne, Kim (Dean) and Tracey, his stepdaughter Meghan (Peter), his grandchildren, Sienna, Jazmin, Autumn, Jorja, Reese and Parker and his brother Murray (Jean).

A celebration of Bernie's life will occur at a later date. In memorial we suggest that a great way to remember Bernie would be to go outdoors, take a walk through the woods, and remember Bernie's adventurous spirit. Remember that in his passing Bernie has now been returned to this earth that he so loved and where he was so loved.