Dilys Julia Michael

With great love and gratitude for the life she shared with us, we announce the passing of Dilys Julia Michael (née Williams). Born April 28, 1937, in Malvern, England, Dilys died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, on August 9, 2026.

Dilys was predeceased by her parents, Nancy and Lewis, and her brother, Trevor. She will be lovingly remembered by her sister, Hilary; her children, Rockwell and Kimberly; her stepchildren, Milt and Colleen; her son-in-law, Tim; her grandchildren, Courtney and her husband, Tim (affectionately known as “Little Tim”), Julia (Greg), Hayley, Waylon (Suraya) and Kevin (Lesley); her great-grandchildren, Mikayla, Jasmine, Kurt, Damien, Cecilia and Lucy; her nieces, Karen (Rick) and Merlee; her nephew, Wes; her great-niece, Marissa; her great-nephew, Spencer; and her many cherished friends.

As a child, Dilys spent her days roving her Kamloops farm by horse with a trail of animals in tow. She left home in her early teens and lied about her age to secure a job as a nurse’s aid (she had to get a new birth certificate re-issued in the ’90s to correct this “error”). She would have many careers over the years, including a child educator (she remembered fondly the time she taught at a Jewish preschool in the Lower Mainland) and most significantly, as a Salmon Arm real estate agent at Block Bros, where she received many sales awards.

Although she topped out at 5-foot, 3 inches, Dilys had a big personality beyond her petite stature. Her booming voice was often heard in the next room, followed by boisterous laughter and cheers. You knew she really liked something when she said, “It’s da-da!” And her family will miss being called “snooks,” “fusspot,” “his/her nibbs,” and “pet.” Oh to hear her say she’s “off to the sandbox,” just one more time.

She loved road trips to Mexico and travelling the world with her late husband Clifford Michael, whom she met on a blind date in Salmon Arm (they were married for more than 40 years). They lived a big life together, skiing, golfing, playing tennis, but they were happiest up at their Queest cabin on Shuswap Lake. Dilys and Cliff were an inseparable, fun-loving pair who were generous in all ways and loved to spend quality time with their family and many friends. Dilys was also a member of her local Rotary Club, and in politics when Cliff became an MLA and Minister of Tourism, they were a great team and accomplished much together for the province of B.C.

One of her most exciting stories was when Dilys, Cliff and friends were held up at gunpoint by burglars in their Mexican villa; that booming voice of Dilys’s almost got them all into trouble when she was talking back to the banditos. In the end, their friend was shot (but not killed) trying to get his wallet out of their vehicle and Dilys (mercifully gagged and silent) got out of the ordeal unscathed.

Her favourite hobbies were gardening (there was always a series of overflowing fuchsia baskets and flower beds cultivated at every Dilys home), taking good care of her family (she kept a spotless house, and was an excellent cook and apple-pie baker), golfing with her ladies (from Victoria to Salmon Arm), painting (everything from actual original paintings to dressing up rocks and furniture and, on occasion, touching up other artists’ paintings), reading (she would read multiple books a week and loved the Salmon Arm library) and enjoying a cold glass of white wine at happy hour which started promptly at 4 p.m. (her family will never hear “Pinot Grigio” and not think of Dilys). 

She and Cliff gave so much to their grandchildren and great grandchildren, including their time, patience, enduring support and encouragement to get a good education, work hard, and be content in life. They are all forever grateful.

There are two Welsh words Dilys always remembered from childhood: one is cariad which means “darling.” This is what her father Lewis Williams used to call her. The other word, Iechyd da (pronounced “yaki-dah”) is a Welsh version of “cheers” meaning “to good health.” And so, it is with full hearts her family raises a final glass to Dilys and shouts, “Iechyd da, cariad! Cheers to you and goodbye for now, our darling, Dilys!”

A celebration of life for Dilys will be held at the RJ Haney Museum on Saturday, August 29th, 2026 at 5:30 p.m.