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FREEMAN, Bouey, Robert

October 2, 1926 - September 21, 2012


Robert Freeman Bouey, of Comox BC passed away on Friday, September 21, 2012 at St. Joseph’s General Hospital following an extended illness. An active and engaged member of the community, Bob will be missed by his extended family and by the many people whose lives he touched.


Born in Regina Saskatchewan on October 2, 1926 to Charles and Jane (Mossop) Bouey, Bob lived a rich and full life, filled with music, art, laughter and the pleasures of family and friends. Following brief service in the Canadian military at the end of WWII, he attended Architecture School at the University of Manitoba. After graduation, he took some time off to travel through Europe, then settled in Edmonton. There, he quickly met and married a fetching school teacher named Nel Charabin, another Saskatchewan transplant.


The young couple quickly expanded their family with two children and Bob set about the serious pursuit of  his architectural career. By 1962, he had his own practice, and a year later he formed a partnership with his older brother Howard. The firm of Howard and Robert Bouey became an Edmonton fixture for the next 24 years, producing many distinctive schools, churches, houses and office buildings which still stand as monuments to the Bouey brothers’ hard work and talent.


Bob was very active in the community, taking on leadership roles in the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, Alberta Architects’ Association, Kiwanis and Camp Hee-Ho-Ha. He took up the trombone at the age of 50 and became very active in the Cosmopolitan Club concert bands.


Bob and Nel retired to Victoria in 1986, fully embracing the West Coast lifestyle. Bob devoted himself to sailing, painting watercolors, playing trombone and connecting with his many friends, both new and old.


Predeceased by Nel, Bob met and formed a relationship with Elizabeth Nash. Bob and Liz married and the two of them have spent the past seventeen years traveling the world. One high point among many for Bob was a cruise which took them around Cape Horn. The Comox Valley was Bob’s base of operations since 2004, and while at home, Bob remained very active in the Comox Valley art and music scenes, playing in his last Concert Band performance in November, 2011.


Bob was predeceased by his wife Nel, and sister Lois Campbell. He is survived by his loving wife Elizabeth; children Chris Bouey and Janet Bouey; step-children Robin Defoe, George McTaggart, Sue (Bob Dyck) McTaggart, and Steve (Judy) McTaggart; brother Howard; grandchildren Caleb (Meredith) , Alexander, Sophie, Dan, Leah, Michele, Michael, Chris, Stephen, and Skyler; great-grandchildren Darby and Ashlin; and uncountable extended family and friends.


A Celebration of Bob’s Life will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 6, 2012 at the Crown Isle Resort Clubhouse. Relatives and friends are invited to join us as we raise a glass and share our memories of Bob’s remarkable life.



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