Obituary of Ernest Andrew BOWNESS

Ernie slipped away just before dawn Friday morning at home, surrounded by his family, 21 days short of his 89th birthday. He was born in Edmonton but his family moved to Calgary in 1929 and he grew up along with the city. Ernie was born into privileged circumstances and as the only child he was supposed to follow in his father’s footsteps, but that was not for him. Having been a Naval Cadet for much of his youth, achieving the rank of Chief Petty Officer, he was more than qualified to join the Royal Canadian Navy to serve during the War. While on a troop train travelling east across the prairies, V-E Day was declared so they were turned around to Vancouver where he spent the rest of the War, and as he said, “fought the Battle of Stanley Park Harbour”. Ernie came back to Calgary and finished High School, trained at Tech (SAIT) and then on to the University of Washington, Pullman, where he majored in gambling. After a number of different jobs he joined his father at Canadian Western Natural Gas and there his life changed when he met a pretty, young brunette from Saskatoon, Phyllis Wakeling. It was love at first sight! A wedding in her hometown soon followed, they then began their married life back in Calgary. Dad joined the City Of Calgary in 1952 and for the next 33 ½ years his job grew as the city expanded! He was kept very busy; if you’ve lived in a district built between 1953 and 1985 chances are that Ernie had a hand in it! His family life kept him busy too. In ’57 they brought home an adorable, blonde baby girl followed in ’59 by an irresistibly handsome baby boy. In 1963 he moved his little family into the house on Carlyle Road, where he worked hard with Phyllis to create a loving and lovely family home. He was a “handy kinda guy”, never afraid to get his hands dirty, accomplished at most aspects of construction, working at one project or another until well into his 80s! He built a cabin for us, took us camping, fishing and even hunting and on many wonderful, memory making vacations! After his retirement he and Phyllis took off to explore the western U.S. and Canada. Ernie was one of the longest living members of the Glencoe Club, only retiring his membership when, well into their eighties, he and Phyllis could no longer participate and enjoy the many sports that they once did. Ernie was blessed with the best of work ethics, and despite his affluent upbringing, was unassuming and unpretentious. He had the greatest, irrepressible sense of humour, witty and entertaining right up to the end! He was a joker and loved pulling pranks on everyone! He and Phyllis volunteered all their married lives, hosted family and friends during special holidays and vacations, holding innumerable family dinners and sheltering many “homeless” young friends. Dad was actually quite tender hearted and cherished his family and would do anything for us. He loved Phyllis almost beyond reason and just couldn’t be happy without her. He did try for 220 days after her death, but as his body failed, he didn’t fight it because he just didn’t want to live any longer without his one true love. Ernest is survived by his devoted daughter Virginia Bowness Goodman; his wonderful, capable son-in-law Ian Goodman and his grandchildren that he loved beyond measure, Sean Goodman and Bryna Goodman, and by sister-in-law Peggy Wakeling, niece Margie (Eric) Lockwood, nephews Rob Wakeling and The Honourable Thomas W. Wakeling QC and Judge for the Court of Appeal for Alberta (Audrey A. Wakeling QC). Ernest was predeceased by Phyllis, his beloved wife of 61 years and 8 months, his son Bob Bowness, who was taken from us too soon, also his parents Virginia Belle (Gravitt) Bowness and Ernest William Bowness. Funeral Services will be held at St. Peter’s Anglican Church (903 – 75th Avenue S.W., Calgary, AB) on Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Salvation Army, 1731 29th Street SW Calgary, AB, T3C 1M6, on line at www.salvationarmy.ca, or by phone 403-410-1112 or to the Calgary Health Trust – Palliative Home Care, Suite 800, 11012 MacLeod Trail S.E., Calgary, AB T2J 6A5, Telephone: (403)943-0615, www.thetrust.ca . A thank you to Lisette Portelance and other the kind professionals at CHT Pallative Home Care and to Joseph from ParaMed. In living memory of Ernest Bowness, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Park Memorial, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W. Calgary, AB, T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.