Obituary: Rae McCombs

Rae McCombs, who played an integral role in UFV’s Continuing Education department in the 1980s and 1990s, passed away peacefully at home on Sept 27, 2019.

He leaves to mourn his wife Lillian, who retired from UFV as a chemistry instructor in 2007, as well as three children (Brendan, Michelle, and Damien), one step-daughter (Nicole), and numerous grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife, Anne.

Rae joined UFV (then Fraser Valley College) as an English language training instructor in 1980.

From 1982 to 1996, he was responsible for continuing education programming for Chilliwack and the eastern Fraser Valley. His time at UFV included a stint as Acting Dean in 1991/92. He was very well regarded by all his colleagues in Continuing Education and the college in general. He forged a special relationship between Fraser Valley College and the Harrison Festival of the Arts that allowed the long-running festival to built solid support in the 1980s.

Rae went on long-term disability in 1996 and officially retired in 2006.

Rae grew up in a logging family in Harrison Hot Springs and had a strong connection to the Agassiz/Harrison region, living for most of the past 40 years in a log home overlooking Harrison Lake. He raised his children there as a single father after the sad and untimely passing of his first wife, Anne. He continued to enjoy his home in the woods after finding love again with his second wife, Lillian.

His studies brought him to Vancouver, Lansing Michigan, Crosslake MB, Valemount BC and Australia’s East Coast. He traveled the globe; Europe, Asia, Australia, North and Central America. Ultimately, he chose to settle in the community he loved – Harrison Hot Springs. He and Lillian had recently relocated to Agassiz.

Please join his family and friends to celebrate his life on November 23, 2019 at 1-4 pm at the Harrison Hotel. Please RVSP to attend by phone at 604-796-3474 or at: http://evite.me/kJ9WJ6BHbq. Please bring your stories. Full obituary in the link below:

Rae McCombs