Former Ponoka County councillor Gawney Hinkley’s battle with cancer has ended.
Hinkley died in the evening of May 29 at the Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre after being there for several weeks. Hinkley was 84 when he passed away and had been battling cancer off and on in his life.
For Ponoka County, Hinkley’s death marks the end of a life that was heavily invested in Ponoka.
“It is with deep sadness that Ponoka County has learned of the passing of Gawney Hinkley,” states a May 30 release from the county.
“Gawney was a county councillor from 1989 until 2007 and served many years as reeve and deputy reeve.”
His strong focus on county matters stand out and can be seen most recently in Rimbey.
“Gawney’s most urgent vision on his last term at council was to see a senior’s facility completed in Rimbey and this goal was met on May 29 as the seniors from Parkland Manor began the move into the new Valley View Manor,” explained the county.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Hinkley family at this most difficult time.”
A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church (5128-53 Street, Lacombe) at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 6. The interment service will follow at Forest Home Cemetery in Ponoka.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations are gratefully accepted to Ponoka FCSS Cancer Fund, Ponoka and District Health Foundation, or Catholic Social Services.