December 11, 1928 - October 13, 2024
Red was born December 11, 1928 in Asbestos, Quebec to Richard and Violet Hull and was the eldest of two children.
Red worked as a hard rock miner in Falconbridge, Ontario and met Velma (Vel) Lyons at a dance in Sudbury, Ontario in 1953. They were married on February 19, 1955 and lived in Sudbury for two years. In 1956 their first daughter was born.
In 1957 Red moved his family to Lousana, Alberta and left for Thompson Lake, Manitoba where he worked for two and a half months sinking shaft. He returned to Lousana and went to work on the oil rigs outside of Red Deer, Alberta. Their second daughter was born in 1958 and that same year Red flew up from Alberta to work and settle in Keno City as an underground miner at Keno 700. Vel, with two daughters in tow, drove up the Alaska Highway that June with her sister, brother-in-law and their two sons. In 1960, while still in Keno, their son was born in Mayo. In 1961 they moved to Calumet where Red was promoted to shift boss. In 1962 they decided to move to Quebec but found themselves back in Calumet within a year before moving on to Elsa. They had made the decision to move to Alberta in 1966 when the No Cash Mine fire happened. Four miners lost their lives and Red was one of the last three miners out. He was credited with saving their lives.
While in Alberta, Red worked for a sand and gravel company. Then he received a call to go back to the Yukon to work at what became the Faro Mine. He then moved to Carcross where he worked at the Arctic Gold and Silver Mine then at the Venus Mine. Vel and the three kids moved to Carcross in 1967. In 1971 Red decided he had had enough of mining, took a welding course, became a welder, and worked at the Carcross Tank Farm for a few months. That same year, White Pass moved his job to Whitehorse where he worked in the Petroleum Division until 1981.
Meanwhile in 1972 their last daughter was born and in 1974 Red bought the Bicycle Repair Centre behind the Coke Plant. He operated the bike shop part time before turning it into a full time business from 1981 to 1988. After selling the bike shop in 1988, Red retired. However, he continued to do welding jobs for people and repaired the shopping carts for Extra Foods/Independent as well as doing other handyman work for them.
Dad enjoyed many activities throughout his life such as curling, bowling, square dancing, dominoes, cards, and crib. He really loved their winter trips to Arizona but most of all, he loved going to dances with Vel at the Legion or anywhere Hank Karr or the Canucks were playing. They loved their social life and had many, many good friends.
Dad's last eight months were spent at Copper Ridge Place where he enjoyed playing crib, going to the Friday afternoon musical entertainment, and cruising the hallways in his power chair.
Red was predeceased by his wife, Vel, of sixty-six years. He will be greatly missed by his children, Laurie Babala, Campbell River, son-in-law, Glenn, Costa Rica, Carol Marks (Bryon) Whitehorse, Rick Hull, Whitehorse, and Christina O'Connell (Darin) Red Deer, Alberta. Red also leaves behind eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He is also deeply missed by his sister, Hilda, many nieces and nephews, and by Adam MacCannell with whom Red had a very special family bond.
A Celebration of Life will be held in the summer to honour the passing of a wonderful and amazing man whom we all loved.