Obituary of J. Bruce Geddes

GEDDES, J. BRUCE " Bruce passed away on Thursday, May 10, 2007 at the age of 88. He was able to stay at home despite a deterioration in his health and was hospitalized only a short time before passing from cancer. He was predeceased by his dearly beloved wife Mary Augusta (1990); parents Daniel and Olivia; brother Elmer; and sister Irene. He is lovingly remembered by his daughters, Dr. Carol A. Geddes, Mrs. Gail Hewgill (John); his grandson, David Hewgill; granddaughter Jocelyn Morris (Mark); great-grandson Alexander Morris; sister Marguerite Geddes; and many nieces, nephews, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and friends. He was born in Griffin, Sask. on May 18, 1918. The family moved to farm in Paynton, Sask. in 1920 and he was raised there and completed Grade 12. He spent the next year working on the farm as it was during the depression. He took a correspondence class in Math from the U of S that winter and completed it with a mark of 100%. He then started a Bachelor of Commerce course but was interrupted by the war when he entered the Air Force. He won his sergeant stripes and was on embarkation leave in Montreal when the war ended. He returned to Saskatoon to complete his Bachelor degree in Commerce and graduated in 1946. He apprenticed for Harris Fingerson Chartered Accountancy office in Regina. He met his future wife on the old Montague Tennis Court. They were married on June 2, 1951. They continued to play tennis, winning many doubles and singles tournaments. They loved to play duplicate bridge or have a bridge night with their neighboring friends. He excelled at crosswords, often beating the time allowed. He instilled a wonderful combination of good sportsmanship, a desire to win, to lose with grace and go on to learn to do better in his children and any he taught. He supported his wife in all her creative artistic endeavors and was proud of her accomplishments and any accomplishments of his children. Family was extremely important to him. He returned to University to become a Certified Charter Accountant in 1962 and worked for Touche, Ross, Bailey and Smart. He then began his own business, specializing in Income Tax and continued to do Income Tax until age 87. With his love of, and skills in Math, he loved the challenge of analyzing horse races. It is too simple?, he said, to figure out who will win. It is more fun to figure out the order of all the horses in the race and how to bet it.? At the end of each year he was always in the money. He had many friends who knew him and greeted him at the Regina Queensbury Downs. Bruce was a friend to all and will be missed by those who knew him. He championed Human Rights Issues, supporting many organizations and charities. He was able to attend most family weddings and in 2006 traveled to the Mayan Riviera, Toronto and Victoria. He also visited his daughter in B.C. and visited new sites in the area. He won his bets at the off track betting while in B.C., which paid for his trip. He was a member of the Independent Order of Foresters and the AOTS of Wascana Church. The family would like to thank Regina Home Care nurses and caregivers, the staff of 3B at the Pasqua Hospital, and Drs. J. Cowley, D. Logan, M. Bohn, and H. Chalchal (Cancer Clinic) for the wonderful care he received. Memorial Service will be held on Friday, May 18, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. in Speers Funeral Chapel, 2136 College Avenue with Rev. Howard Hanson officiating. Interment will be held in Regina Cemetery. Friends so wishing may make donations, in memoriam, to the Allan Blair Cancer Clinic or Regina Palliative Home Care, 4101 Dewdney Avenue, Regina S4T 1A5 or to a charity of choice. An online book of condolences may be signed at www.speersfuneralchapel.com