Douglas – A former resident of Bonnechere Valley (BV) Township who lost his valiant battle with cancer last Wednesday is being remembered for his love of his family and friends, his community, and his good nature.

Paul Kilby, 64, a son of the late Stan and Helena Kilby, passed away February 19 with his family by his side. 

A longtime employee of Wren’s Construction and later Cavanagh Construction’s Douglas and Fourth Chute operations, will be recognized as the person responsible for initiating the project that led to the development of McRae Park in Eganville. He was also an active member in the Douglas Lions Club, and was involved with Canada Day celebrations in Eganville, the May Mudder, Fairfields assisted living, Valley Heritage Radio, and more.

Mr. Kilby and Joe Moore became good friends through their relationship with the development of McRae Park and eventually became co-chairs of the park committee. Mr. Moore and his wife, Diane, said they are really feeling the loss of a friend who was so instrumental in not only the park project, but active in other community projects as well.

“It was definitely Paul’s vision for that to start,” Mr. Moore said. “He started cleaning up (the site) before anybody else got there.”

He recalled stopping in one day after the clean-up had started to see if Mr. Kilby wanted some help with the historical side of the property, and the relationship started there. He noted Mr. Kilby had an amazing group of contacts he reached out to for assistance, and they came forward immediately because of the relationship he had fostered with them.

“He prepared the plan for the Ministry of Natural Resources to clean the junk out of the river,” he remarked. “It was amazing the different people he knew because of his work.”

Mrs. Moore recalled whenever they needed someone to help out, Mr. Kilby knew exactly who to call for assistance.

“It all started when he was having a coffee and cigarette there one morning,” Mrs. Moore said. “That’s when he saw what could be done and it went from there.

“I was working in Arnprior and I didn’t know all these people he dealt with when he was with Cavanagh,” Mr. Moore added. “It was amazing.”

That was in 2017 and Mr. Moore said it was Mr. Kilby who went to Bonnechere Valley Township council to get approval to proceed because it was on municipal land.

Mrs. Moore said he always had a smile on his face, and when something was coming up, he’d have a mischievous grin.

“And you’d think, oh boy,” she said.

The Moores agreed Mr. Kilby would never let any obstacle stand in their way and he would figure out how to get around a problem.

He noted while he and Mr. Kilby co-chaired the project, when a sign was erected thanking those involved, he insisted Mr. Kilby’s name be first.

“It never would have happened, had it not been for him,” he stated.

The Moores said they had a lot of fun with Mr. Kilby on the project.

“Our motto was, we’re going to do this, but we’re going to have fun,” the noted. “That’s the way it was.”

Mrs. Moore said Mr. Kilby liked his sweets.

“I personally will miss our early morning coffee/cookie breaks,” she said.

Mr. Kilby was extremely happy and proud of the finished product, they agreed, noting in one of their visits with him about two weeks ago, despite his failing health, the park was still on his mind.

“He told us to make sure they kept it plowed out so people can get there in the wintertime,” he recalled.

Mr. Kilby was in good spirits anytime they visited him, and the mood was always positive despite the situation. 

His involvement in the community extended beyond the park to other events, like the annual Canada Day fishing derby, which he helped co-ordinate. He’d enlist people like Harold Gallagher from the Douglas Lions Club and other volunteers to help out.

BV Township Mayor Jennifer Murphy said Mr. Kilby’s passing is a huge loss to the community. She recalled getting a phone call from him asking if it was okay to clean-up the garbage in the river at the old grist mill site.

“He said he was going to get some volunteers to help get the garbage out of the river. A couple of days later, I drove by, and he had all of his pals out there working.

“They had their pick-up trucks to take the stuff to the appropriate waste sites and next thing I knew, a park was built,” she added. “I’d like to say he was the father of McRae Park, along with the incredible committee.”

She congratulated him and the committee for the incredible vision they had for the site.

“Literally, it just started out as a garbage clean-up,” she stated. “It’s pretty amazing when one person takes the initiative and other people see the vision.”

Like Mr. Moore, Mayor Murphy was amazed at the number of “friends” Mr. Kilby knew and was able to enlist to help.

She recalled his visit to council and how he approached the idea of asking permission for the land.

“It was more like he was jokingly telling council to give them the land, rather than asking for it,” she said. “He did it very tongue-in-cheek.”

“He certainly was all for the betterment of this community and he will be missed,” she said.

Jason Miller, one of the founders of the former May Mudder mud run competitions at the Sno-Drifters Club, said Mr. Kilby was an instrumental part of that team.

“He was one of the main guys in the planning and stuff. He was mainly our public relations guy,  who was very important in making things happen through and through.

“He knew a lot of people and would touch base with other businesses in Eganville, and had connections with the Lions Club,” he added.  “He was good guy to have on the team at all times.”

Mr. Miller said Mr. Kilby was easy going and could be relied on for whatever was needed.

“He had a way of persuading people. He was the type of guy people didn’t mind giving a hand to.”

Harold Gallagher of Douglas was a co-worker for many years and active in the Douglas Lions Club with him.

“He would always put his shoulder to the wheel to make things work,” he said referring to his friend’s willingness to do anything for the club.

He said Mr. Kilby was quite involved with many events but took great interest in the annual kids’ fishing derby.

 “That made his day, that fishing derby,” he said. “Anything with a little bit of comedy and fun in it.”

Mr. Gallagher said Mr. Kilby took great enjoyment on playing little tricks on people and really enjoyed doing things for the community, especially the kids.

“He was a really valuable member of our club who will be greatly missed,” he remarked.

Hank DeBoer worked with Mr. Kilby at both Wren Construction and Cavanaghs for over 20 years.

He said Mr. Kilby was someone who was respected and liked by his co-workers.

“I enjoyed working with Paul; he was a good guy to work with. We had our differences, but we always worked them out and got along well.”

He said Mr. Kilby had a supervisory role with both companies and during the years with Wren’s, he’d assist with onsite work.

“He knew pretty well everybody around,” he said.

The late Mr. Kilby was predeceased by his parents and older brother, Michael. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Kelly, their daughter, Lindsay, and sons Richard and Kevin, grand-daughter Madason, and siblings Leah (Wayne), Debra (Bev), Susan (Rob), Peter (late Marilyn), Larry (Linda), Tim (Debbie) and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral mass is being held at St. James Church, Eganville on February 28 at 11 a.m.