Three generations gathered at Pogey Park in the North Thompson Provincial Park on Father’s Day to celebrate a park bench installed in the area in memory of Dave “Smiley” Cooper, who passed away peacefully in his sleep after a long battle with rheumatoid arthritis on Dec. 11, 2020. His step-daughter, Barb Davy, fundraised in January to erect a bench with a plaque in the provincial park because of the connection Cooper and his wife, Jan Cooper, have to the area. They took care of North Thompson Provincial Park, as well as Spahats’ campground, in the early ’90s until the early 2000s. Back row from l-r: Wynn Davy (grandson), Chris Davy, Noble Davy (grandson), Travis Pahl, Isaiah Forbes (grandson), Surrow Forbes (grandson) and Mark Forbes. Middle from l-r: Kim Davy, Barb Davy, Jan Cooper, Janessa Pahl (granddaughter), Maureen Forbes (Cooper’s daughter) and Josh Forbes (grandson). Front l-r: Mary Forbes and Oliver Davy. (Stephanie Hagenaars / Clearwater Times)
By Stephanie Hagenaars
Clearwater Times
Family members fundraised for the memorial bench and plaque in Pogey Park.