Obituary for Charlie Williamson Stephen
Charlie Williamson Stephen, born in Tilley, Alberta on June 13, 1928, passed away peacefully ninety-five years later on Tuesday, December 12 at the Midnapore AgeCare, Calgary. Throughout his life, Charlie (aka “Chuck”) was connected to the world of agriculture. The eldest son of a well-known shepherd John (‘Jock’) Ingram Stephen and wife Jane, Charlie’s formative years were spent at the CPR Demonstration Farm in Strathmore, Alberta. Years later, the family moved to Vermillion, Alberta where Charlie had the distinction of President of the Vermillion High School Student Union. Following graduation, Charlie found employment as Shepherd at the Edmonton University Farm. While living in Edmonton, he met Roberta Mae Dawes in the Young Peoples Group at the Metropolitan United Church. Married in 1955, bleating of Suffolk soon mingled with strains of Mozart as Roberta wove music culture with Charlie’s agriculture. Once married, Charlie and Roberta relocated to a farm in the Pine Creek (AB) area, where daughters Barbara and Heather were born. In 1959, Charlie and Roberta moved to the Haysboro district of Calgary, just west of the Harry Hays Farm where Charlie had found employment to support his new family. Here, two more children were added to the family, John and Cathy. For many years thereafter, the Stephen home would resonate with laughter, music, and rambunctious energy. Memorable too were the many camping excursions and Manitoba road trips as a family. In 1963, Charlie began working in the feed mill industry and continued to do so until his retirement in 1993. Retirement did not come easily, and so he travelled to China and Sri Lanka as a Volunteer Advisor with the Canadian Executive Service Organization, assisting feed mill operations in those areas. Eventually he did settle into retired life, enjoying sports, reading, gardening and travelling to Alaska and New Mexico with Roberta.
During his stint at the Haysboro farm, Charlie was critically maimed by a penned bull. Against the odds, Charlie survived, though the impact of the traumatic event was never forgotten by his family (especially his wife). Charlie often expressed bewilderment at living so long a life, while others, many much younger than he, predeceased him: his parents John and Jane, his siblings Jackie, Eddie, William, George, Isabelle and Dorothy, his wife Roberta, his brothers in-law Ray Mitchell, Gordon Leversuch and Andrew Dawes, and his sisters in-law Marian Stephen, Marylou Dawes and Karen Dawes. Also significant were the deaths of his nieces Sharon Mitchell and Sheila Stephen and his nephews Bob Mitchell and Gary Mitchell.
The pillar of his family, Charlie was never one to dwell on himself. Rather, he cheerfully shared his love, patience, and generosity (and on occasion political views!) with others. Charlie struggled to come to terms with leaving his home in the last few months of his life; fortunately the transition was brief and he now rests in peace. Those who continue to remember his graces and mourn his loss are: his children Barbara (Eric) de Bruyn, Heather (David) Bergen, John (Lorna) Stephen, Cathy Stephen; his grandchildren Cheryl Bergen (Eric Estor), Rachel Bergen (Jason Pollock), Hayley Stephen (Andrew Dil), Marla Stephen and Brett Stephen (Karen Salazar); his great-grandson, Edison Estor, his sister in-law Gayle Stephen as well as many nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to express their deep appreciation to the many neighbours, care workers, nurses, and doctors who assisted Charlie the last few months of his life. Donations in Charlie Stephen’s memory may be made to the Sheila Stephen Memorial Scholarship of the Alberta Sheepbreeders’ Association.
Donations in Charlie Stephen’s memory may be made to the Sheila Stephen Memorial Scholarship of the Alberta Sheepbreeders’ Association.
To view and share photos, memories, and condolences of Charlie, please visit www.choicememorial.com.
During his stint at the Haysboro farm, Charlie was critically maimed by a penned bull. Against the odds, Charlie survived, though the impact of the traumatic event was never forgotten by his family (especially his wife). Charlie often expressed bewilderment at living so long a life, while others, many much younger than he, predeceased him: his parents John and Jane, his siblings Jackie, Eddie, William, George, Isabelle and Dorothy, his wife Roberta, his brothers in-law Ray Mitchell, Gordon Leversuch and Andrew Dawes, and his sisters in-law Marian Stephen, Marylou Dawes and Karen Dawes. Also significant were the deaths of his nieces Sharon Mitchell and Sheila Stephen and his nephews Bob Mitchell and Gary Mitchell.
The pillar of his family, Charlie was never one to dwell on himself. Rather, he cheerfully shared his love, patience, and generosity (and on occasion political views!) with others. Charlie struggled to come to terms with leaving his home in the last few months of his life; fortunately the transition was brief and he now rests in peace. Those who continue to remember his graces and mourn his loss are: his children Barbara (Eric) de Bruyn, Heather (David) Bergen, John (Lorna) Stephen, Cathy Stephen; his grandchildren Cheryl Bergen (Eric Estor), Rachel Bergen (Jason Pollock), Hayley Stephen (Andrew Dil), Marla Stephen and Brett Stephen (Karen Salazar); his great-grandson, Edison Estor, his sister in-law Gayle Stephen as well as many nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to express their deep appreciation to the many neighbours, care workers, nurses, and doctors who assisted Charlie the last few months of his life. Donations in Charlie Stephen’s memory may be made to the Sheila Stephen Memorial Scholarship of the Alberta Sheepbreeders’ Association.
Donations in Charlie Stephen’s memory may be made to the Sheila Stephen Memorial Scholarship of the Alberta Sheepbreeders’ Association.
To view and share photos, memories, and condolences of Charlie, please visit www.choicememorial.com.