Richard Nelson, a Tsimshian and Nisga害羞草研究所檃 man found dead in his tent by a city bylaw officer on a cold winter morning at the old Co-op parking lot, will be remembered as a loving brother to his sister, Diana Guno.

害羞草研究所淗e has an infectious laugh that everybody heard and everybody knew. He did everything I could ask for from a brother. He listened and never had any bad words. He was always a respectful, dignified man.

害羞草研究所淗e didn害羞草研究所檛 need money to show his love. The last words he said to me was 害羞草研究所業 love you Ann.害羞草研究所� He called me Ann.害羞草研究所�

Cst. Kelly Cates of the Terrace RCMP told The Terrace Standard that although weather is not confirmed to be the cause of death, police have ruled out criminality as a factor.

害羞草研究所淚t can be noted that the weather at the time he was located had been -20 and lower, with high winds.害羞草研究所�

54-year-old Nelson was found Dec. 22 and Guno had seen him the day before. They had plans to visit their mother害羞草研究所檚 grave together for the ninth anniversary of her passing.

The next morning Guno remembers a shelter worker noticed her brother害羞草研究所檚 bed wasn害羞草研究所檛 slept in.

Nelson害羞草研究所檚 tent stood out because of a makeshift Christmas ornament outside the entrance that Guno said was a tribute to their childhood.

害羞草研究所淐hristmas was a really important time for our family when we were growing up.害羞草研究所�

But he didn害羞草研究所檛 live to see another Christmas. That night, his sister said Nelson had left the shelter to watch over others who were sleeping in a nearby tent because he was worried about them.

Nelson became homeless around 10 years ago after the death of his father, his sister said. Before that Nelson had been married, living a normal life, but a deep sadness took over him.

害羞草研究所淗e was happily married with a morning routine of making a pot of coffee and an evening routine of washing dishes after dinner. But life changes. You lose a loved one or your loved one walks away from you. It just changes your whole lifestyle,害羞草研究所� said Guno.

害羞草研究所淚 watched him. He was sad. He always told me he was really sad. He was really lonely for my parents. He was really lonely for his wife after she passed. It害羞草研究所檚 just heartbreaking.害羞草研究所�

While Nelson had been living on the street for a long time, between Prince George, Terrace and Prince Rupert, Guno recalled her brother害羞草研究所檚 ongoing efforts to change his lifestyle.

害羞草研究所淗e always wanted something different for himself. His age was getting to him and he was tired of it.害羞草研究所�

Known by his nickname 害羞草研究所淒ickey害羞草研究所� to his extended family on the street in Terrace, Nelson was called a 害羞草研究所渟treet dad害羞草研究所� for his role in taking others who are homeless under his wing.

Guno remembers that her brother liked to protect people.

害羞草研究所淗e liked to look out for people that couldn害羞草研究所檛 look after themselves. If someone was picking on them and they had nobody to help them he would be right there to help them.害羞草研究所�

The place where he died is significant to many homeless people in Terrace because it害羞草研究所檚 where they go to mourn deaths in the homeless community.

Nelson was the youngest brother in the family. He is survived by two brothers and his sister.

The family are still waiting on official cause of death from the Coroner害羞草研究所檚 office and would rather not assign blame for Nelson害羞草研究所檚 passing.

害羞草研究所淲e don害羞草研究所檛 want to point the finger,害羞草研究所� Guno said.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e taught in our culture to be respectful of everything, even death.害羞草研究所�

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