The Merritt Fire Rescue Department flew the city flag at half mast last week, as they remembered the life of retired Fire Chief and lifelong Merrittonian Donald Moyes, who recently passed away.

Moyes served the department for 37 years, beginning his career as a junior firefighter in 1953, and moving up the ranks to fire chief.

In 1975 he became Merritt’s first career fire chief, having served as the volunteer chief for seven years prior.

He retired in 1990.

“Moving from volunteer chief to career chief — that was a big move,” said current Fire Chief David Tomkinson, recalling his predecessor’s career.

“I’m sure that was a pivotal time for the department,” he added. “There would have been new standards for firefighting and for fire code, different things like that. The department would have had to progress.”

It wasn’t just the department that changed over the years. Tomkinson pointed out several new firefighting technologies that came along during the course of Moyes’ career, like truck upgrades and breathing apparatuses. He said it was “probably a pretty tough thing to try to bring in to a department that is full of traditions.”

Tradition is a big part of any fire department, Tomkinson said.

“We’re very proud of our traditions,” he said. “Chief Moyes was one of the individuals who helped create some of those traditions that we still follow today.”

Asked for specifics, he laughed and said some were secret. But others, like charity work, public education and earning the respect of the community were the ones that Moyes built the Merritt Fire Rescue Department on, and still resonate today.

“Everyone I’ve ever talked to who served under him said he was a great leader and a great friend,” Tomkinson said. “I think those are the most prominent aspects, he was well known and well respected.”

As far as his own personal experience with the man, Tomkinson — also born and raised in Merritt — first met Moyes on a Kindergarten trip to the very fire hall where he now works. He said a lot of Merrittonians his age know Moyes from similar tours.

And in the yeas since his retirement, he said he would come by the hall to check in on his old department, say hello to the work experience firefighers and tell stories from his days as a firefighter.

“He would offer me up some advice that over the years has helped me in my position,” Tomkinson remembered fondly.

“He paved the way to where we are today.”