Obituary of Robert Smalley

Obituary Robert (Bob) Smalley Born: Biggar Saskatchewan, 18 September, 1938 Deceased: Fort St. John, 16 March, 2016 Bob leaves his wife, Mae Lorette, and his four daughters, Penny, Karen, Colleen, Karol and his Stepsons Michael McGraw and Brian McGraw, Step-Daughters Margot McGraw and Annette McGraw. There were 22 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren shared by Bob and Mae, there were so many they blurred into one family. Bob was a man of many talents, Singing, Steel Guitar Playing, Painting, and he could fix any computer that came through the door. His talent for observation and his intuitive sense of how equipment worked made him so invaluable that he was asked to return to work. Bob was happy to have the chance to put equipment to rights and even though he was "running out of steam" (his words) it was important to him to carry on. Bob went to work when he was 14 and got his first job running a fork lift at a saw mill in Dawson Creek. He organized a tire shop, which is what happens when Bob works for you. He worked with electricians, plumbers, and drove fuel truck when oil explorations began in the North Peace. He loved telling stories about the challenges, which he loved, so he got his wish on unpaved and ungraded roads in the middle of winter. In 1983 Bob and Mae moved into Apartment II. The elevator was being installed and the front yard was so muddy the furniture had to be rolled up on planks. Bob worked as Maintenance supervisor for the entire complex until 1998 when new management took over. In 2014 Kim asked Bob if he would help straighten out problems with equipment. Bob said yes and he was a happy man, restoring the equipment to the way it had once been. He will be keenly missed by his wife, his children, his grandchildren and great grandchildren and by the residents of the buildings of the North Peace Seniors Housing Society, who will never forget his easy way of teasing as he made his way through the buildings. This strongly ethical man could see into the heart of people and things. What he wanted when he reached the other side was to have a cabin in the forest next to a small river. Let us hope he was granted that. He deserved it. Love what you do: Do what you love. - Wayne Dyer Services