ELLIOTT, Dallas Owen Elliott

Died peacefully and with cherished loved ones at his side on June 27, 2026, in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.

Born on May 18, 1941, in London, Ontario, Dallas is fondly remembered for his deep love for his family; unwavering faith in God; champion for the needs of children and families; razor sharp analytical mind that he applied to his professional and volunteer life, sports, and bridge playing; and his unflappable ability to make his family regularly cringe with his “Dad” jokes, especially in public.

The family he created misses him more than words can describe: Carolyn Elliott, his wife of 63 years; his children John-Paul Elliott (Karlene), Jason Elliott (Melinda Thompson), Louise Elliott (Geoffrey White), and Jerome Elliott (Tessa); and his cherished grandchildren Olivia, Jared, Ava, Emma, John, Aster, and Maeve. He held a special place in the hearts of his 13 nieces and nephews, especially Heidi and Karl Holster and Jill Bell, his godchild.

He leaves behind his sister Lynn Hood, and brother-in-law Wilhelm (“Willi”) Holster.  He was predeceased by his parents Clifford and Agnes Elliott and his beloved sisters Dorothy Parker and Gail Holster.

Dallas Owen Elliott held tremendous care and love for children and families, especially those in impoverished and neglected situations. As newlyweds in the late 1960’s, Carolyn and Dallas completed missionary work at St. John’s Mission in D’Aar South Africa. While Carolyn attended to the health needs of mothers and babies at the medical clinic, Dallas managed the mission operations and cared for the needs of school aged boys who lived in residence while they attended school at the mission.

Upon returning to Canada and throughout his lifetime, Dallas continued his passion for children and families, bringing God’s love to them. Along with Carolyn through their parenting years, they lead countless Christ in Other Retreats (“COR”) for older teenagers and young adults, and Marriage Encounter retreat weekends. In his retirement, he brought his financial and analytical talents to stewarding Parish finances to ensure the needs of children and families within his Parish, local communities, and in Haiti were met.

At age 73, he was thrilled and proud to travel to Haiti with his daughter and family. As an adult adoptee, the trip held special meaning for Dallas, as he supported his grandson’s first return trip to his birth country after adoption. Dallas soaked up every moment of that experience, bringing love to children in orphanages and schools, learning all he could about his grandson’s birth country, and being a quiet steadfast presence for his grandson. The experience reignited his passion for children and families living in impoverished situations, and, championing the educational and nutrition needs of children through his daughter’s charity, Haiti in My Heart.

An active member of several Catholic parishes throughout his life in St. Thomas ON, Penticton BC, and Kelowna BC, he became a member of the Knights of Columbus as a young adult serving as Grand Knight and a District Deputy Director over his nearly sixty year involvement. In more recent years, Dallas served on the Parish Finance Committee at Immaculate Conception Church and the Nelson Diocese Pilgrimage of Faith Committee, successfully stewarding both organizations through challenging changes.

Dallas applied his keen, analytical mind to both work and play. As a career “middle-manager”, his superiors relied on his ability to navigate the impossible ubiquitous situation of the position to reduce redundancies while creating efficiencies, and maintain workplace morale and employee retention. He did so with grace and care, especially in the late 1990’s when a recession hit hard in Ontario, forcing the closure of his long-time employer’s manufacturing operations, and the termination of his own employment after thirty years of service.

In play, Dallas employed his strategic mind to bringing a structured, playful methodology to teaching and coaching children how to play soccer. Using the method himself, he coached two sons’ competitive teams as a young father, and his daughter’s recreational team in his retirement. The “new” model being introduced in the 1970’s is now widely used throughout Canada; it is the model by which his grandchildren have also learned to play soccer. In days just before his death, while watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament, he could be heard coaching and shouting in exasperation at the TV the correct advice to the elite players, “come late!” and “far post!”

On his own, he relished playing bridge. Dallas was a player that could easily count cards, keep track of what each player held, and knew what others were going to play (or should play) before they even did. Nothing exasperated him more than a player – especially his partner – making an incorrect move. Even so, he excelled at bridge ranking as a high player, winning tournaments, and at the age of 84 won the Helen Shanbrom Ace of Clubs Race for his Masterpoint Class because of his excellence in play.

With Carolyn, cherished long-time friends, and his family in Kelowna, he “held court” at centre ice watching his beloved Kelowna Rockets play. Throughout each game, he was regularly consulted on referee decisions, player statistics, and coaching mishaps. He was rarely, if ever, wrong in his analysis.

His family extends their gratitude to Dallas’s physician, Dr. Lillian Shyman, for her exceptional and compassionate care. Heartfelt appreciation is extended to the staff and volunteers at Kelowna General Hospital – notably those in C1 and Floor 4B West – and at Central Okanagan Hospice House for their tender and respectful care.

Those who knew Dallas will remember him as loving, generous, kind, and welcoming; a man who approached life with optimism and joy and for whom family meant everything. His legacy of love, compassion, and service will bring comfort to all who knew him.

To honour Dallas’s deep passion for helping others, the family requests that donations be made to support those in need in place of sending flowers. Following wonderful support already given to the Knights of Columbus, Dallas’s final wish was for additional memorial gifts to be made to Haiti In My Heart at https://www.haitiinmyheart.ca/be-involved.

Evening Prayers will be held on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, from 7:30-8:30 PM, located at Immaculate Conception Church, 839 Sutherland Ave, Kelowna, BC.

A Funeral Mass will be held the following day, on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at 12:00 pm, located at Immaculate Conception Church. Attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for St. Vincent de Paul, a local charity that assists low-income individuals and families. If you are unable to attend in person, please join the family online by Livestream at the time of the service (see below).

A Reception at Immaculate Conception Church and Internment at Kelowna Memorial Park Cemetery will follow immediately after Dallas’s Funeral Mass.