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Charles Robert Elliott
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<div itemprop="description">Dr. Charles Robert Elliott. It is with sadness that the family announces the death of Charles Robert (Bob) Elliott at the age of 85, one day before his 86th birthday. Bob&rsquo;s health had been deteriorating for the past five years. He and his wife, Beryl, moved to Richmond B.C. in 2009 to be nearer to their only daughter, Marjorie, and her family. Being close to family enabled Bob to enjoy four happy years despite his failing health. Born in Edmonton, Alberta on October 15, 1927, Robert, as he was called back then, grew up in Busby, a hamlet near Edmonton. During the &ldquo;war years&rdquo; he had to be the man of the house as his Dad, a World War I veteran, had re-enlisted in the army. The Elliott home was also the Busby Post Office so Bob, with his Mother, was busy sorting and delivering mail during those years. His older brother, Jack, left the nest and became an assistant station agent at Flatbush, Alberta. Younger sister, Florence, did much of the house work, including the job of keeping many coal oil lamps in working shape in those pre-electricity years, and also helped care for Shirley, the baby sister. After completing High School, Bob attended the Vermilion School of Agriculture &ndash; now Lakeland College &ndash; and became interested in agronomy. This led to a degree in Agriculture and then a Masters degree from University of Alberta, followed by a PhD from the University of Saskatchewan. In the early 1950s, with an Ag degree, he came to work at the Beaverlodge Research Station. During his research work there he developed a new variety of Creeping Red Fescue, which he named Boreal as a tribute to the North. Fescue is a very nutritious grass, similar nutritionally to the &ldquo;prairie wool&rdquo; that pioneer famers prized as livestock feed. Two new varieties of clover were also produced as a result of Bob&rsquo;s research. In 1966 The Canadian Seed Growers Association named him their Man-of-the Year in recognition of his work. Bob was a kind, gentle and patient man who enjoyed being with people and he participated in many community projects in the Beaverlodge-Grande Prairie area. As a young man he worked with boys&rsquo; groups doing such things as building crystal radio sets. He was also committed to the Beaverlodge United Church where he served many terms on the Church Board, as well as teaching Sunday School and being involved in many church related activities. He also enjoyed many years as a Mason in the Lake Saskatoon Lodge. He served several terms on the Beaverlodge Town Council and several years as Mayor. In addition he was on the Board of Governors for the Grande Prairie College. Later he was selected to run as the Progressive Conservative candidate and served three terms as M.L.A for the Grande Prairie constituency, from 1982 until 1993. He was proud of the fact that he had, on many occasions, been able to help people solve problems or find ways to resolve issues, including time spent chairing the Northern Alberta Development Council which he thoroughly enjoyed. Along with &ldquo;good works&rdquo;, Bob enjoyed &ldquo;fun&ldquo; things. He had a good baritone voice and enjoyed singing, beginning with the U. of A. Mixed Chorus. Learning to play the clarinet without too many squeaks was a challenge that he mastered and he played a number of years in the Beaverlodge Band, along with many good friends. He was a founding member of the Beaverlodge and District Historical Society which produced two volumes of &ldquo;Beaverlodge to the Rockies&rdquo;, and also&rdquo; Pioneer Artist of the Peace&rdquo;, a tribute to Euphemia McNaught, an artist he greatly admired. Art was another area of great interest in Bob&rsquo;s life. As a young man he had delivered water to the home of the local minister who was also interested in art and who gave Bob his first art lessons. During his University years he earned a bit of much needed cash by drawing posters advertising campus events. Over the years he still took time to draw and paint and never missed an opportunity to visit an Art Gallery. Some of his best work was done after he retired and in 2003 he had a very well-received solo show at the Beaverlodge Cultural Centre. He tackled oils, acrylics, and watercolours but in his later years discovered his true passion was for coloured pencils, and especially enjoyed drawing pets of his friend. Mourning his loss are his wife of 58 years, Beryl; daughter Marjorie and son-in-law Scott Johnson and their two daughters, Courtney,19, studying Engineering at UBC, and Shelby, 15, in Grade 10. Bob&rsquo;s only surviving sibling is his sister Shirley and her husband Karl Sarlin of Stouffville, Ontario. There are several nieces and nephews as well as Bob&rsquo;s sister-in-law Margaret MacAulay of Ft. Saskatchewan, Alberta. He was predeceased by his father Orlando (Bill), his mother Cissie Emily, brother Jack and his wife Lola and their son Dwayne, Ian who died as a baby, Bob&rsquo;s sister Florence and his brother-in-law Brian MacAulay. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2013 at 2:00 pm at the Richmond Funeral Home, 8420 Cambie Road, Richmond BC.</div>