October 19, 1921 – April 3, 2017
Predeceased by his parents Olive and Robert Gauley of Bengough, Saskatchewan and brother Sherman Gauley of Newberry Park, California. Bob is survived by his beloved wife Adelaide Gauley; sons Jeffrey Gauley and partner Ingrid Scham of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Mark Gauley and his wife Dayle Chambers of St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Harvey Gauley and his wife Margot of Cloverdale, BC and Wesley Gauley of Maple Ridge, BC; grandchildren Matthew, Hannah, Taylor, Andie, Chelsea and Kaiser; sisters Esther Sabin of Regina, Saskatchewan and Dorothy Jones of Victoria, BC and nieces and nephews Jim, Ron, Joanne and Lorna.
Bob served 9 years in the Royal Canadian Air Force – Flight Engineer trained on Halifax Bombers and Canso Aircraft. He belonged to the Comox Valley Curling Club, Glacier Greens Golf Course and the Comox Valley Probus Club.
After high school, Bob attended 1 year of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. In 1953 he worked at the MacDonald Brothers Aircraft Company in Carberry, Manitoba. This company became the Bristol Aeroplane Company and he moved to Winnipeg to work on CF100 and CF101 jet aircraft. He worked on the tooling for jet engines for a time and progressed to working on Black Brandt Rockets. He achieved the classification of Rocket Inspector and worked in that position until retiring from the Black Brandt Propellant Plant at Story Mountain, Manitoba. His nickname at work was “Doc” given to him because of his white lab coat and propensity for creating new methods and tools for rocket inspection.
He was a handyman’s handyman. If he couldn’t find a tool he would make one from the materials at hand. He loved golf and played his whole life. He curled until his knees would no longer allow it. Every summer there was an extended camping trip for the family. From Expo ’67 to Yellowstone park and trips “home to Bengough.” He took all four sons on many fishing trips in the summer and skiing trips in the winter. He loved to go sailing with his friend Norm. He had a used bicycle repair “hobby” that he shared with another buddy Fred. We are donating the remaining 82 bicycles from this “hobby” to the charity Bicycles for Humanity where they will find usefulness in Africa. He was an avid reader of real-life sea adventures.
Bob was a good-natured man with kind manners and a quiet intelligence. That is until he got started telling one of the many animated and humorous stories from his past. When he was young he was a daredevil and was known for stunts on skis and riding his Indian Chief motorcycle.
Visitation and viewing will take place from 2 – 4pm on Tuesday, April 11th at Comox Valley Funeral Home Cremation and Reception Centre, 1101 Ryan Road where a Celebration of Bob’s life will be held Wednesday, April 12th at 11am followed by interment at Courtenay Civic Cemetery.