DEREK SEAN DYSON
Born November 29, 1982, Richmond, BC. Weighed in at
6 lbs. 15 1/2 oz.
He was my 2nd born. I had always wanted a girl and a boy.
Now I had that. The name 'Derek Sean' was picked out long before I ever got married and had children. I liked the name when
I first heard it (his Granddad's name)- 'Derek' to me was a strong name and had character. 'Sean' is after Sean Connery (007).
My dream had come true when I had my son. He was an active baby boy for the most part. His sister Stephanie was so proud of
him. I remember her walking into the hospital for the first time to see her brother. She brought him a plastic hockey stick.
She use to call him 'Derwick'.
Stephanie loved to sit with her brother, help bathe him,
and just be near him. She always wanted to do things for him.
Derek was a bit fussy - usually at dinner time when I
was trying to cook. I would place him near so as he could watch me in the kitchen.
Derek didn't really crawl for long - he wanted to run
before he could walk. And this he did !!!
Derek hated being indoors. I spent many a rainy days at
McDonald's so he could play in their playground.
Derek was always afraid of missing something when he went
to bed, many a night I would find him asleep in the hallway.
Derek went to play school when he was 3yrs. old, I got
to go help out lots. He was a chatty little fellow, happy and loving.
In Grade 1 Derek loved to dress in his good shirt and
tie. He would always say the 'Our Father' for the class (this is when they still said it).
Going to church was not one of Derek's favorite things
to do - he couldn't sit still - I always felt I went just for my lesson in patience..
Derek started playing soccer at the age of 3 in Tot Soccer
- he played until he was 17.
He had a paper route for 3 years to earn his spending
money. I used to help him just so I could be with him and for the exercise some days. This route allowed him to buy his skateboards
and brand name clothes. I couldn't afford these things on my own.
He also played baseball since he was 5 yr. old - then
he discovered umpiring - the girls teams - which he did up until he got his job that took him to Vancouver Island 2002.
He received many awards for his umpiring - Senior Umpire
of the Year 1997.
Derek enjoyed Drama when he got into high school - had
a couple of major roles. 'Young Pip' - in Great Expectations, 'Pappy' in Lil Abner, which he got an award for making the show
go on… His counterpart got injured in one of the first scenes on opening night. Derek had to do a fair amount of adlibbing
until another girl jumped in to try to make the show go on. Derek queued her on her lines as the show went on - and the show
did go on! He was also in the Drama Festival. During his graduate year he and his friend did 'Who's on First' Abbott &
Costello. They did such a great job they were asked to perform at the girl's baseball banquet. He was a bit of a clown at
times. His sense of humor is truly missed by all who knew him.
He got interested in the Marketing Field in his later
years of high school. He won the School District $1,000.00 Scholarship Award for Marketing.
He had a love for life and the things he did. He would
put his heart and soul into things. Even his singing - which he couldn't do… I never got to hear him at Kareoke - his
co-workers said he was so painful to listen to - but he brought the house down with the energy he would put into it.
Derek enjoyed- skateboarding, BMX bike riding, roller
blading, snow boarding and hacky sacking with his friends. He was involved in many activities throughout his short life.
Derek had 4 broken wrists - twice on each arm. Three were
from snowboarding and his last broken wrist was from skate boarding. He went to Saskatoon with a cast on his wrist July 2002,
when I last saw him.
Derek was an all round kind of guy. He had a kind heart
and a good listening ear, he made friends easily. He had a very close relationship with his sister Stephanie. This grew even
more so as they got older. They looked out for one another. I remember the time he had his first 'love' heartbreak - Stephanie
was there to console him. They were good friends and shared lots together. They, too, had their sibling times…
Derek went to Saskatoon July 8, 2002 to work for a few
months. On his venture with work, he passed through Calgary, where his sister was visiting for the Stampede. He called me
at home at 4:30 a.m. to get the phone # where Stephanie was at. I gave it to him but said - it is only 5:30 a.m. there wait
a 1/2 hour before you call and I am sure your sister will meet your for breakfast - which she did! They took a photo of the
2 of them - this is the last photo we have taken of him. I talked to Derek on Aug. 19 (our last conversation) we ended it
with the usual 'I Love You' for this I am Thankful ! I got a call Aug. 27th, my 49th B-Day, from Derek's boss saying he had
reported him missing, as he didn't show up for work. I thought NO WAY ! he is going to call me tonight… Well I got my
call on Thurs. Aug. 29 to tell me the worse news a Mother can hear. Derek's body had been found in the south Saskatchewan
River. He had ended up in there somehow Sunday Aug. 25th after being out with a co-worker. Cause of his death is UNKNOWN but
classed as a dry drowning.
It is all such a mystery to us as to what really happened
- we may never know…
Derek had many friends as shown by the amount that turned
out to his Celebration of Life Service.
Derek is dearly loved and missed by the many people who
knew him. He has left his footprints in our hearts. We will all remember him for his bright smiling face that would light
up a room, his good sense of humor, his caring heart and sensitivity towards others.
WE MISS 'YOU' DEEPLY !!!
ALL OUR LOVE FOREVER
MOM & STEPHANIE
A Memorial Bench is being placed in WELLINGTON POINT
PARK - LADNER, BC
IN MEMORY OF 'DEREK'
'LOVE YA FOREVER'
"In our hearts forever, gone but not forgotten"
