By Kendall Harris

Joy Sevy was my summer Grampa. Our family of 5 kids, 2 parents, and 1 dog used to go to Osoyoos to visit "the cousins" at Joy & Bert's lovely cottage on the lake pretty much every summer when I was growing up. Joy was always outside upon our arrival, usually doing some kind of heavy yard work, or up on a ladder picking fruit or holding down the branches so his little grand kids could pick fruit on their own. He was always shirtless & tanned, always visibly strong and fit, and ALWAYS smiling.

Yes, always smiling, his eyes wide and expressive, sparkling and dancing with delight at the story he was telling, or the story he was listening to. I always remember him with a full white beard, which, if you're a kid, really kind of captures your imagination. I mean, who has a full white beard except Santa Claus? ...Maybe Santa spent his summers in Osoyoos, hanging out with kids, grandkids, cousins of grandkids, friends of grandkids, church members, and anyone he met and liked, picking fruit and laughing alot.

Osoyoos was magical, and Joy was a big part of that. I remember big meals around the picnic table on his deck, usually standing room only, with lots of talking, laughter, and love. We'd build campfires in the evening and talk and sing, and Joy would recite poetry, most notably "The Cremation of Sam McGee" which remains to this day one of my favorite poems. He asked questions of everyone; so inclusive, so interested, and so alive.

His was a life lived vibrantly, generously, robustly, and thoroughly. He was much loved, and will be much missed, my summer Grampa...