Obituary for Fraser MacPherson MacNicol
MacNicol, Fraser MacPherson
Oct 1960 - Oct 20, 2022
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Fraser MacNicol at his home in Calgary, AB on October 20, 2022. He was 62 years old.
Fraser was born in Regina, SK in October, 1960 to Helen (née McLean) and Jim MacNicol. His mother went into labour with him while at a football game, so you could say his love of football, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders started early.
The youngest of four children, Fraser excelled in school after the family moved to Calgary. He was accelerated during his grade 4 year, and so was only 16 years old when he graduated from Calgary’s Crescent Heights high school in 1977.
He worked on an oil rig in northern BC for a year, then took a year of commerce at Carleton University, before answering his calling to study geology at the University of Saskatchewan in 1980. He was very active in the geological social club, the Ore Gangue, but he must have studied a lot too, because he graduated with honours in 1984. He then moved to Calgary and started work as a geologist with Texaco Canada Resources.
Fraser married his university sweetheart, Lynne Schroeter, in 1989. They had two children, Blaire and Rhys MacNicol. Fraser loved being a dad and thoroughly enjoyed taking the kids to Disneyland, Legoland, Mexico, and Salt Spring Island, among other places.
His love of geology took him around the world to such faraway places such as Libya and Yemen. When the children were very young, Fraser started working rotations as a wellsite geologist first in Libya with OMV Exploration and Production, and later worked in Yemen for Canadian Petroleum. Fraser enjoyed travel and always came home invigorated by his experiences. Besides working abroad for many years, he spent time in New Zealand, China, and Hong Kong.
He returned to Calgary in 1998 and started working as a senior operations geologist with Canadian Petroleum Limited. He spent many years consulting as a wellsite operations coordinator at various companies, including Rolling Rock Consultants, Cougar Consultants and McLeay Geological Consultants. He later worked with RPS Energy Canada and Suncor before enjoying retirement.
In his younger days, Fraser loved participating in sports such as football, hockey and skiing. After knee injuries sidelined him, he enjoyed golfing, attending Flames and Stampeder games (to watch his beloved Roughriders), watching movies (especially with a big bucket of buttery popcorn), and spending time with his children and friends. He liked cooking and barbecuing, and perfected making sourdough bread long before it was fashionable.
In later years, he and his longtime companion Abby spent many happy times at their home at Glennifer Lake, where they rescued three Mexican dogs and enjoyed a quieter pace of life. During retirement, Fraser became involved with the community and volunteered at many events over the years, especially sporting tournaments like the ATB Golf Classic and the Shaw Charity Classic. He expressed his love of politics by helping out with political elections on each level.
Always having a comment to share, Fraser will be remembered for his quick-witted sense of humour. He is survived by his daughter, Blaire MacNicol (Jon Hansen) and son, Rhys MacNicol; brother, Dr. Bruce (Cynthia) MacNicol; sisters, Barb (Dean) Varro and Joanne MacNicol; stepfather, Gordon Keys; stepsisters, Susan Keys (Bob Myles) and Nancy Keys (Ezio Nadalin), as well as four nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his special companion, Abby Wray. He was predeceased by his father, James (Jim) MacNicol and mother, Helen (Gordon) Keys.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Calgary Food Bank in Fraser’s memory.
To view and share photos, condolences and stories of Fraser, please visit www.choicememorial.com. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Choice Memorial Cremation & Funeral Services (403) 277-7343.
Oct 1960 - Oct 20, 2022
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Fraser MacNicol at his home in Calgary, AB on October 20, 2022. He was 62 years old.
Fraser was born in Regina, SK in October, 1960 to Helen (née McLean) and Jim MacNicol. His mother went into labour with him while at a football game, so you could say his love of football, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders started early.
The youngest of four children, Fraser excelled in school after the family moved to Calgary. He was accelerated during his grade 4 year, and so was only 16 years old when he graduated from Calgary’s Crescent Heights high school in 1977.
He worked on an oil rig in northern BC for a year, then took a year of commerce at Carleton University, before answering his calling to study geology at the University of Saskatchewan in 1980. He was very active in the geological social club, the Ore Gangue, but he must have studied a lot too, because he graduated with honours in 1984. He then moved to Calgary and started work as a geologist with Texaco Canada Resources.
Fraser married his university sweetheart, Lynne Schroeter, in 1989. They had two children, Blaire and Rhys MacNicol. Fraser loved being a dad and thoroughly enjoyed taking the kids to Disneyland, Legoland, Mexico, and Salt Spring Island, among other places.
His love of geology took him around the world to such faraway places such as Libya and Yemen. When the children were very young, Fraser started working rotations as a wellsite geologist first in Libya with OMV Exploration and Production, and later worked in Yemen for Canadian Petroleum. Fraser enjoyed travel and always came home invigorated by his experiences. Besides working abroad for many years, he spent time in New Zealand, China, and Hong Kong.
He returned to Calgary in 1998 and started working as a senior operations geologist with Canadian Petroleum Limited. He spent many years consulting as a wellsite operations coordinator at various companies, including Rolling Rock Consultants, Cougar Consultants and McLeay Geological Consultants. He later worked with RPS Energy Canada and Suncor before enjoying retirement.
In his younger days, Fraser loved participating in sports such as football, hockey and skiing. After knee injuries sidelined him, he enjoyed golfing, attending Flames and Stampeder games (to watch his beloved Roughriders), watching movies (especially with a big bucket of buttery popcorn), and spending time with his children and friends. He liked cooking and barbecuing, and perfected making sourdough bread long before it was fashionable.
In later years, he and his longtime companion Abby spent many happy times at their home at Glennifer Lake, where they rescued three Mexican dogs and enjoyed a quieter pace of life. During retirement, Fraser became involved with the community and volunteered at many events over the years, especially sporting tournaments like the ATB Golf Classic and the Shaw Charity Classic. He expressed his love of politics by helping out with political elections on each level.
Always having a comment to share, Fraser will be remembered for his quick-witted sense of humour. He is survived by his daughter, Blaire MacNicol (Jon Hansen) and son, Rhys MacNicol; brother, Dr. Bruce (Cynthia) MacNicol; sisters, Barb (Dean) Varro and Joanne MacNicol; stepfather, Gordon Keys; stepsisters, Susan Keys (Bob Myles) and Nancy Keys (Ezio Nadalin), as well as four nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his special companion, Abby Wray. He was predeceased by his father, James (Jim) MacNicol and mother, Helen (Gordon) Keys.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Calgary Food Bank in Fraser’s memory.
To view and share photos, condolences and stories of Fraser, please visit www.choicememorial.com. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Choice Memorial Cremation & Funeral Services (403) 277-7343.