John Owen Gilson

John Owen Gilson of Key Largo, Florida, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2026. He was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, on January 27, 1950.

He was predeceased by his wife, Betty Gilson.

John is survived by his sisters, Jeannette Meakins and Kathy Shannon; his brother-in-law, Bruce; his nieces, Casey and Danya; and his great-niece and great-nephew, Freya and Talon, all of Perth, Western Australia, as well as his long-time feathered companion, Kaiko. He will be deeply missed by dear friends and extended family in Vancouver, Key Largo, Romania and Colombia.

John was truly one of a kind—unique, strong-minded, and a natural raconteur who kept us all entertained with his stories and adventures. He had a passion for music, technology, space rockets, trains and cockatoos. Generous to a fault, John cared deeply for those who needed help most, always offering support without expecting anything in return. He was a trusted adviser, wonderfully funny, bringing laughter and perspective to those around him. An explorer at heart, John’s life and career took him across the world including his work with IBM, DMR consulting, Pan Pacific Hotels, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and The Wedding Experience, where he touched many lives along the way.

John will be remembered for his kindness, his stories, and the lasting impact he had on all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Central Florida Parrot Sanctuary and Rescue in John's name, for the care of Kaiko. The verified link is as follows:

Donation:

https://givebutter.com/Coo5dX

Many thanks from the sanctuary and the family.