On June 11th Mel Forbes passed away after a short time in the Burns Lake Hospital. He lived at his home on Carnoustie Golf Course until two weeks before his death. He loved being at home and with the help of his family and the Home Support Team, he was able to be there until the end.
Mel (James Melville Forbes) was born in New Hazelton on March 25th 1914. His father was a CNR employee and looked after the water towers that the steam engines had to fill up from. So Mel and his parents lived in a caboose when he was very young. He was put into Boarding schools so he could get his education and finished his schooling up to the grade 13 level. His work covered a vast area of experience. He worked in Endako in the Hotel when he first started his adult life. He looked after the desk and post office that was there. He talks about shovelling snow at Wells for his room and board and how cold it was when he and a couple friends would walk into the mine. He also worked in the ship yard in Prince Rupert as a rivoter. He later became a Tie Inspector and travelled up and down the railroad in the Central Interior Area. He met his wife Peggy Saunders in Burns Lake. They owned a garage for a time. They were married in Burns Lake, in 1946 their first child, Moira was born in Burns Lake. In 1948 they moved to Prince Rupert. Their son Sandy Forbes was born in Prince Rupert. Mel was in partnership in the Arrow Bus Line in Prince Rupert for some time. When he left the bus line he started work at the Columbia Cellulose Pulp Mill in Prince Rupert. He stayed there until he and his wife Peggy decided to move back to Burns Lake in 1971 and fulfil their dream to build a golf course. Mel worked at Granisle until he was 65 and then retired to work at the golf course. They both took on a huge project and saw their dream materialize with the opening of Carnoustie Golf Course in 1977. Mel and Peggy were active in their business until the mid 80’s when they had their children and spouses take over the work load. by the late 80’s Moira and her husband Stanley Lindaas took over the business and continued to look after her parents. Mel and Peggy lived in a beautiful setting and golfed when they wanted to. It was a very good retirement for them.
Mel is survived by his wife Peggy (Elizabeth Margaret Forbes), a son from his first marriage Greig(Diane) Forbes and granddaughter Krista Forbes. His daughter Moira (Stanley) Lindaas, granddaughter Gina (Chris) Bialuski and great granddaughter Sage Bialuski, grandson Sean Colonello, and son Sandy (Wendy) Forbes. There will be a family service on the golf course at a later date. The family would like to thank the Burns Lake Home Support for their never ending support and care that was shown to our husband, father and grandfather. He became very close to the home support people that were there for him. The family also really appreciated their help. The nurses at the hospital were wonderful with Dad. He visited the emergency on many occasions and appreciated their assistance.