WILLIAMS, Robert (Bob)

WILLIAMS, Robert (Bob) May 18, 1945 August 3, 2025 Robert (Bob) Williams of Calgary, AB, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at the age of 80 years old.
Those who knew Bob appreciated his culinary talents, notably his ability to barbecue the best-ever steak and ribs; his generosity; and his organization and efficiency.
Bob was born in the northern Alberta town of Vermilion on May 18, 1945, and together with his beloved wife, Jocelyne (Joyce); his dearest daughter, Dionne; his treasured son-in-law, John, and his precious grandchildren, Lauren and Rowan, enjoyed the pleasures that life afforded them.
Bob grew up in Vermilion as the eldest of four children: Dehl Williams (deceased), Shelley (Boyd) Hastey, and Simone (Paul) Urquhart.
In grade eleven, his family relocated to St. Paul, AB, and it was there that he met the love of his life, Joyce. He often told the story of the first day that he saw her standing against a wall with her shiny, leather shoes and how, when he sat in his first class, he hoped she would be in it so that he could meet her. Because Joyce was in French classes, she was not in Bob’s class. It was while walking home at lunch that day that he heard the tap, tap, of her leather shoes behind him, and it was then that he introduced himself and from there their relationship blossomed. Bob moved to Regina, SK that year to play hockey for the Regina Pats and baseball for the Regina Red Sox. During their two years apart they stayed together, writing letters regularly.
Bob and Joyce married in 1967 and three and a half years later Dionne was born. He and Dionne enjoyed being outside together. They spent countless hours tobogganing, throwing a baseball, and golfing. Bob also enjoyed teaching her about landscaping and lawn care.
Bob worked in the oil and gas industry for Pacific 66, which became Petro Canada, and for Alberta Energy Company, which became Encana. His work took them to many places in British Columbia and Alberta, spending most of his career in Medicine Hat, AB.
Bob was an athlete who enjoyed hockey, baseball, golfing and curling. Although he did not play tennis, he and Joyce loved to watch it.
When his eldest grandchild was born in 2004, he and Joyce moved to Calgary to be closer to this new bundle of joy. In 2007, their second granddaughter, Rowan, was born. Together, he and Joyce cared for them when their parents were at work and when they were older, spent many hours driving them to their many practices and/or activities.

In 2020, his best friend, his love, Joyce, passed away suddenly, leaving him lonely and heartbroken, and now they are reunited once again.
Bob was a man of strength and integrity whose presence will be remembered forever.
Thank you to Dr. Noelle O’Riordan for her genuine and compassionate care these past 4 years and to all the special people from the Chinook Hospice, who during his short stay there spent time getting to know him and went out of their way to ensure that he was cared for and comfortable.
Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Robert’s family at www.MHFH.com.
In living memory of Robert Williams, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes.

Joyce Williams
The Light in our Worlds In Memoriam

April 1, 1946 December 2, 2020

When my mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer that ravaged her, she still managed to find joy in each day. She was a beacon of light. She celebrated that she could still swallow, took pleasure in playing music like ABBA for the people in unit 74, and did all that she could to alleviate the grief that we were experiencing. She thought of us first, always putting herself second. One day she said to me, “I do not know how yet, but I will always be with you. You will feel my eternal love forever.” And we do, each day.
My mom brought light and love into each act, no matter how small.
It was this light that helped illuminate our way forward, in a world without her physically by our sides.
Each day we recall the person she was, and the way that she taught us all to be, and our hearts are warmed.
In each recipe that we recreate, in each artistic stroke of the brush, in each act of selfless kindness, we feel the warmth her light brings.
On August 3, two days before what would have been their 48th wedding anniversary, my dad, Bob, who had lived without his love for too long, reached for my mom’s light as she guided him home. We find comfort knowing that they are together once more and are blessed in knowing that they live on in us.