August 18, 1945 – October 26, 2026
It is with a broken heart, but some relief, that I announce that my husband and best friend, Lloyd Twaites, died peacefully in my arms at home on October 26, 2026, at the age of 81. He had struggled for several years with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare neurological disease.
Lloyd was born at VGH, and raised in Kitsilano, Vancouver. He made several lifelong friends at Kitsilano High School. He married his high-school sweetheart, Bette Beattie, in 1967. They later divorced but remained good friends. Lloyd become a Registered Assayer in 1971, graduating at the top of his class from BCIT’s Chemical & Metallurgical Technology program. He joined Chemex Labs (now ALS Global Labs) in North Vancouver where he stayed for over 30 years, retiring in 2000 as Marketing Director. He was highly respected in the mining exploration industry for his knowledge and integrity.
In 1978, Lloyd met Mary Simpson on a cross country ski trip in Manning Park. As an ex-Boy Scout, he had the right tools to repair the mohair strip on her ski. She was impressed by his handiwork, his snazzy little sports car and his sense of humour. He was equally impressed by her ability to go downhill on skis. They were together for the next 48 years, sharing a life of adventure and travel. Early trips included trekking in Nepal, backpacking in the Coast Mountains and the Rockies, hiking in New Zealand, long-distance walking in England, and cycling in Holland, France and Germany. After retirement, they travelled farther afield, including a 21-day voyage to Antarctica, which Lloyd considered his favourite trip. They also went on safari, trekked to see the gorillas, and self-drove around Namibia, among many African adventures. They also explored much of Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Between trips, Lloyd pursued his passion for mineral collecting. He explored old mining areas in his beloved Toyota Land Cruiser with his good friend Ty, searching for unique specimens. He was well known among collectors for his extensive collection of BC minerals and enjoyed many “show and tell” gatherings with fellow collectors. Many trips were made to explore all corners of Canada in their truck & camper – always with mineral collection sites in mind, looking for even more minerals!
Lloyd was a kind and thoughtful man with a great sense of humour. He will be deeply missed by Mary; his brother Ken (Jamie); his nephews, nieces and their families; and his many friends. His high-school friends, Eric, Andy and Len, visited him throughout his illness, and Lloyd always enjoyed reliving their teenage escapades.
I like to think that he is sitting on a big waste rock pile up there somewhere, with his good friends Ty, Art & John, looking for more minerals!
The family wishes to thank Lloyd’s caregivers; he was especially fond of Mary Ann G. and Rica, as well as Absolon, Au and Mary Ann M. They also thank his physiotherapists, Cat and Christine, who helped him be the best he could be; the physicians at Home Vive, whose 24/7 on-call care made it possible for Lloyd to stay at home; and the nurses from Pacific Spirit Community Health Centre, especially Sandra.
A gathering of family and friends will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made via the website www.pspsocietycanada.ca. Condolences may be sent to lloyd2026@telus.net or posted below.