It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Velma Doris Hull (Vel) on Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at the age of 89.

Vel was born June 11, 1932 on the family farm near Lousana, Alberta to William and Winifred Lyons and was the youngest of six children.



When Vel was 20 years old, she joined the RCAF in Falkenbridge, Ontario and worked as a lead teletype operator. She met John (Red) Hull at a dance in Sudbury in 1953 and they were married on February 19, 1955.

In 1958 Red flew up from Alberta to work and settle in Keno City.

Vel, with two daughters in tow, drove up the Alaska Highway that June with her brother-in-law, pregnant sister, and their two sons.

They encountered the huge forest fire at Fireside that happened that year but made it through before the highway was closed. This was one of the fifty-seven trips Vel made up and down the Alaska Highway. 

In 1960 they moved to Calumet and that same year their son was born in Mayo. In 1962 they decided to move to Quebec but found themselves back in the Yukon within a year and back in Calumet before moving on to Elsa.

A move to Alberta was made in 1967 but again they were back in the Yukon within a year this time settling in Carcross. In 1971 they moved to Whitehorse and in 1972 their last daughter was born. Whitehorse remained Vel’s home until her passing.



Vel was an Avon Lady, a volunteer firefighter and fire chief in Carcross, worked for the Department of Public Works, the Whitehorse Post Office, Supply and Services (YTG), The Bicycle Repair Centre business which they owned for fourteen years, and her favourite job of all - The Yukon Visitor’s Centre where she worked until her passing.

She enjoyed many activities throughout her life such as knitting, curling, bowling, square dancing, clogging, and most recently crocheting hats for newborns at WGH. She really enjoyed their winter trips to Arizona but most of all she loved going to dances with Red at the Legion or anywhere Hank Karr or the Canucks were playing.

They loved their social life and had many, many good friends.
Vel volunteered with every organization she was ever involved in and most recently was volunteering at the Golden Age Society.

Vel was featured in the Remarkable Yukon Women book by Claire Festel and Valerie Hodgson and her and Red were in a wonderful article by Mike Craigen titled Living Legends, Red (John) and Velma Hull, Growing Older Younger.

Vel is greatly missed by the love of her life, Red, of sixty-eight years, and her children, Laurie Babala (Glenn) Costa Rica, Carol Marks (Bryon) Whitehorse, Rick Hull (Luanne) Whitehorse, and Christina O’Connell (Darin) Red Deer, Alberta. Vel also leaves behind eight grandchildren, Ryan (Dani), Jill, Kimberly, Shannon, Hayley (Jon), Richard (Tammy), Brandon and Rachel as well as three great grandchildren, Autumn, Charlie and Isla. She is also deeply missed by her sister-in-law, Hilda, and many nieces and nephews.

Vel was predeceased by her siblings, Harry, Grace, Maurice, Ken and Mary.

A celebration of life will be held in the summer to honour the passing of a wonderful and amazing woman who we all loved.