Robert "Marshall" Close

Marshall, beloved husband of Aleatha Close (nee McGinn) peacefully passed away on Saturday, March 7, 2020 at the age of 91.  Beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle and brother.  Marshall was the last of the original Close clan that left Scotland for a new life in Canada.  To celebrate his life, he leaves behind his cherished wife of 65 years Aleatha, his three sons and their spouses Rob (Debbie), Ben (Christine) and Tom (Shelley).  He had 7 grandchildren Daly and Shayna, Tara (Caleb), Natalie (Jared) and Mark, Julia and Mike. He also had 4 great grandchildren Fintan, Timan, Isla and Rosalind.  All will miss him dearly.  Marshall was born in Kinross, Scotland and came to Canada at only 9 months of age arriving by ship on May 11 of 1929 then lived his younger years on a farm at Sunset Prairie, BC. In those days he participated in rodeos and enjoyed hunting with his older brother Dave.  Once he left the farm, Marshall drove cat trains in the Arctic on the ice roads.  He met Aleatha at the Toad River Lodge on the Alaska Highway and they were married in 1954 starting a lifetime of love that continued throughout their life.  As a family man he worked in construction on the Alaska Highway, operating heavy equipment, stationed out of mile 245 and mile 392 before taking the family to Fort St. John where he spent the remainder of his working years at the Department of Highways as a foreman.  After retirement Marshall and Aleatha relocated to Kelowna where they enjoyed life until ill health forced a move closer to family in Alberta.  They spent the next 18 months in Vermilion before making their final move to Calgary.  Marshall was always known and will be remembered as a person that would always step up and be there to help others, in the role he took on as president of The Adderly’s condo association, helping with repairs to neighbours apartments or his role as bingo caller and chef at the barbeques. He will be missed by the many people that he met throughout his life.  The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude and thanks to the staff at St. Marguerite Manor for the loving care that he received in the last years of life. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St Peter’s Catholic Church (541 Silvergrove Drive NW) on Saturday, March 14, 2020 at 1:00pm with Deacon Stephen Robinson presiding. 

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