Obituary of Llyle Babuick
Herbert "Llyle" Otto Hugo Babuick
1950 ~ 2025
Herbert “Llyle” Otto Hugo Babuick, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away with family at his bedside, on June 7, 2025, in Fort St. John, BC, at the age of 74. Llyle was born on December 6, 1950, in Vancouver, BC, to his parents, Ernest & Eileen Babuick.
He is survived by his wife Lorraine Babuick; children, Ron (Angie), Lisa, and Deneen (Wes), Greg (Melissa); as well as his grandchildren, Jonathon (Kirstyn), Richelle, Nolan, Josie, Dalton, Robbie, Conrad, Walker, Mary; and his great-grandchildren, Evelyn and Henry; brother Vern (Bernadine), sister Jacqui (Rod), sister Heidi; as well as numerous nieces and nephews; and many “adopted” kids and grandkids.
Llyle was predeceased by his parents; his siblings, Karlau, Ralph, Del, Elaine.
He was affectionately known as Grandpa, Papa, Papa Bear and Uncle Llyle. He spent his early years growing up in Mission, BC area. He met Lorraine Asztalos in 1974 and they were married on June 14, 1975, sharing a week shy of 50 years together. They started their married life in Kamloops and relocated to the Fort St. John area in 1979. Llyle worked as a Heavy Duty Mechanic for Finning for 36 years and retired in 2008. He never actually quit pulling wrenches until recently though as he was always working on something – race cars, vehicles, friends’ farm equipment, quads, etc. He also spent many happy hours working with Dave Moore in Dawson Creek. Mechanics and finding solutions were his passion.
Llyle also loved hunting and outdoor adventures like archery, rafting, and his beloved garden, fruit trees, and grapes. His other love was kids - keeping them safe and teaching them things (even things that would get them into mischief). We have a sign at the house that reads “there would be fewer spoiled kids if we could just spank Grandpa!” He prided himself on being a bit of a prankster and the instigator of many happy moments and adventures with the kids, grandkids, great grandkids, and all the extra nieces, nephews and kids who called him Dad, Uncle or Papa. He was always getting up to shenanigans with his best buddy Alf. Just don’t sit beside him (or between him and Alf) when playing Uno.
In the spirit of keeping kids safe, Llyle (along with his then neighbor Brent Rogers) went to the City in 1986 and had 5 city lots across the street from the house designated as a park. Many hours were spent with the neighbors cutting, clearing, filling and levelling, all to get ready for equipment that was donated. This is the 76th Street park that has been renamed the Tot Lot.
Llyle loved motorcycles and rode for the majority of his life, in fact Llyle and Lorraine started their dating life together on a motorcycle and even traveled across Canada in the summer of 2010. We can’t even begin the count the number of kilometers he put on his bikes.
Quilting was a later-in-life hobby that he enjoyed as there were no rules - and he could make his own patterns! He entered several quilts in the Fall Fair, taking home Best of Show and several ribbons over the years.
Llyle requested to be cremated and have a private family internment at a later date so everyone can be home for it. He did not want a funeral or formal celebration of life – didn’t want all that “hellabaloo.”
Llyle leaves behind a legacy of hard work, dedication and love for his family and friends. He will live on our memories forever.
