When Arthur and I met we were teenagers and in his teen years he became interested in 2 things that shaped the rest of his life. One was his love of music, listening to it, playing it and sharing it with anyone who would listen to him play or listen along side of him to what excited him. He started playing in bands at a young age and became well-respected by his fellow musicians. Over the years he played a wide range of musical styles, from pop to heavy metal, from rock to jazz. Arthur had no qualms about getting up on stage and putting on a show. In fact, he didn't have to be on stage to put on a show – and I think we’ve all seen a little of that performer in him.

I did mention there were 2 things.... The other thing was girls, specifically a young and beautiful Kathleen Ray. While he loved to share his music and other interests with anyone, he had no intention of sharing her. He was, however, certainly proud to have her at his side and it showed. He clearly adored her and she adored him as well. It's almost impossible to speak of Arthur without mentioning Kathleen. Such was the nature of their relationship - not one of co-dependence but one of symbiosis. I like to think of it as Arthur having won the lottery - the wife lottery, that is. Arthur was the kind of person that was the glue that held people together, that got people to work together and treat each other with respect and dignity. And he found his match in Kathleen. No matter what was happening in the world, no matter what was going on around them, they were a constant. Most of us could only wish for such a strong, unshakable bond.

They were never concerned about "keeping up with the Joneses", although there is one Jones Arthur did keep up with over the years....

When I met Arthur I was a directionless teenager (which I doubt he ever was) hanging out in the music store where he worked. We had one obvious thing in common and that was, of course, music. With Arthur's encouragement and help I got to audition for the band he was playing in – Tarcus, the first professional band I had the pleasure of playing with. I have always credited him with getting me started and he has always declined any thanks or praise for that - he always told me I got myself started.

Once we were playing in the same band we became close friends, spending time not only rehearsing, playing and planning but just hanging out. He and Kathleen frequently joined my family at parties, picnics and other functions - they were like part of the family.

As far as friends go, you couldn't do better. Sometimes we would gather at their place on weekends when we weren't playing, sometimes we'd just show up with a case or 2 of beer, other times Kathleen would prepared a sumptuous and delightful meal after which we'd sit around listening to music, chatting, imbibing and just having fun. It was on one of these evenings that Arthur decided to put on a bit of a show (like I said before, he didn't need to be on stage).

Arthur put Deep Purple's Highway Star on the stereo, cranked it up loud and proceeded to jump on the dining room table to play "rock star guitarist" just for fun. Arms and legs pointing in all directions, hair flying behind him, he came bounding out of the kitchen. As he jumped up on the table his foot slipped on the nice centrepiece Kathleen had placed there. He smashed into the chandelier, went flying off the table and ended up on the floor in a heap. Even though he was hurt he found the humour in the situation and we all had an uproarious laugh - although I don't think Kathleen did at the time. Kathleen's initial response was to bark at him - "Arthur" she shouted, almost as one syllable, to which he responded in his classic shrug that showed his double-jointed elbows and sparkling smile. Once she realized he was hurt she immediately forgot about the foolishness (and her indignance) got him an ice pack for his twisted knee and tended to him for the rest of the night.

Even after we were no longer playing together we kept in touch, spending time together or just talking on the phone frequently. He always made a point of keeping in touch, keeping me updated on what was going on in his life, telling me with remarkable enthusiasm and always asking me what was going on with me. He really wanted to know and that was always nice. As time passed and kids entered the picture it would change the dynamic a little but we would get together when schedules allowed but it was usually Arthur that made the contact. He always reached out.

Arthur approached everything he did with zeal. He never dabbled in anything, he would research whatever it was that caught his interest and become knowledgeable about it. He was an expert on military aircraft, he could identify most planes produced in the latter half of the 20th century at a glance and could recite from memory the specification of many of them. I don't think he ever missed the Abbotsford Air Show, it was like a religious pilgrimage for him. When it came to what he did to earn a living, I would bet that he knew more about guitars (and other musical equipment) than almost anyone in the industry. He surprised me on many occasions with his knowledge on subjects that I never suspected he'd dig into. For instance, when Arthur was going to buy a car he's research it thoroughly to the point that he could tell mechanics the intricacies of the vehicle. And he was like that with everything he bought or got involved with. Most recently it was scale-model trains.

When Arthur got into computers he would often call me to ask questions or get ideas on how to get around problems. But it wasn't long before he was telling me things I didn't know and I was teaching computer courses at a local college.

Arthur and Kathleen instilled their energy, enthusiasm and love of life and others into their kids and it shows. They have raised 3 wonderful, energetic, compassionate and capable children –each of whom carries a little bit of dad’s mischievous bent and lot of their dad’s (and mom’s) integrity.

When it came to people Arthur was very outspoken about those who impressed him with their abilities, talent and integrity. He would occasionally tell me about people he met through his work and some might think he was name-dropping but that wasn’t his style. He spoke about these people because in awe of and proud of them and proud of his association with them. This is how he spoke of his friends. He rarely said a negative word about those who didn't measure up. He always showed kindness, compassion and patience with people but at the same time he wouldn’t let anyone overstep their boundaries. He always offered great advice if you were willing to listen and a friendly, non-judgmental ear if you needed one.

A couple of years ago I got a call from Arthur that started with him saying "Rod, I have some bad news.... Rick Marusyk passed away". While I knew Rick fairly well years before, he and Arthur had been much closer - school-mates, band-mates and good friends. Arthur was clearly shaken by Rick's death and was not shy about saying so. He said to me that we were getting to the age when this would be happening more often and he wanted to make sure the people he cared about knew how he felt before it was too late to say anything. He told me he loved me and respected me as a person, as a father, as a musician and as a friend. He didn't tell me this to gauge my feelings for him, it was said to me from the heart and soul, from the depth of his being. I responded that I felt the same about him and that I was honoured to have him as a friend. We concluded with the hope that we had many more years of life left in us but there is no reason not to let people know how you feel because you never know what can happen around the next bend.

In a few minutes you will see a sort of a slide show and video collage of Arthur. There are some remarkable things you will notice throughout. One of them is that, by and large, Arthur hardly changed since he was a young adult. Sure, there are a handful of photos that show him without a moustache (Kathleen much preferred it) and there are some where his hair is a little shorter but in many shots it is the other things or people in the photos that give away the era, not his appearance. At least, from my perspective, the kid I first met back in 1975 is the same kid we are here to celebrate. The other thing that strikes me is the happiness, love and devotion you can see in him, with Kathleen, with Derek, Krystal and Myles and in his life in general.

In closing, I just want to say that with Arthur's passing, Heaven just got a very special angel and the great rock band in the sky got one hell of a bassist. Goodbye, dear friend.