Dominique (“Don”) Gaboury born on April 14, 1925 in St. Alphonse MB, was one of 14 children of Adelard and Marie-Anne (Drouin) Gaboury (originally of Quebec). At age 4, Don, his parents and his 10 siblings moved to Spirit River AB. From there, Adelard homesteaded at Willowvale (now White Mountain), about 8 miles away. Don started school in Willowvale, and had to walk four miles in the summer times, but rode in a horse drawn sleigh in the winters. He remembered a happy childhood although the family was poor. They spoke French at home, and were strict Catholics. Going to mass on Sundays in town was an all-day event. Over the years, one of his brothers, Paul, died at age 21; a sister, Geraldine was married; a brother, Bob, moved to Saskatchewan; and another brother, Emmanuel (Immanuel), moved to Edmonton. His sisters Fern and Rosie were at a convent in Peace River, and his brother Alban worked there to pay for their accommodation. In 1938, when Don was 13, his parents purchased a bare homestead north of Codesa, and lived in town. Don now only had to walk two and a half miles to school. After finishing Grade 8, he worked with his father at the farm. In the winters, they worked at a saw mill. Joining the army in 1944, Don took his basic training in Red Deer, before going to Europe where he went to England, France and Germany. He returned to Canada on the “Ille DuFrance” in 1946, and took a half section which he cleared and broke in the Codesa area. He and his brothers had a pulp wood business by Tangent, and the brothers also bought a new Ford car giving them transportation to various events in the areas. In 1952 Don married Muriel Carbone from Tangent, and they had 4 children: Val, Jerome, Debbie, and Dwight. There was hard work on their mixed farm, and gradually Don acquired more land having over 7 quarters. An active member of the Elks, Don served in all positions and became Exalted Ruler. For 42 years he was also a member of the Canadian Legion and partially paid for the Eaglesham Cenotaph. In 1964 Don started hauling water in the oil patch in the winters, while continuing farming in the summers. Selling the farm in 1976, he purchased his own water trucks, and worked full time on his brother Dennis’ drilling rig. Muriel and Don divorced in 1974. Dwight lived with his mother in Grande Prairie. Don remarried to Maria Cameron from Dawson Creek in 1979. They lived in a trailer which moved from rig to rig in the oil patch. Because of several heart attacks in 1984, Don was in and out of hospitals for two years, retiring in Dawson Creek. At only age 66 Don died on May 31, 1991 in Dawson Creek. He is interred at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church Cemetery in Spirit River.
Source: Smoky Peace Triangle pp. 214-217 Gaboury family history; p. 87 name in list of veterans
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