Obituary of Robert Hollingshead

Robert Cecil Hollingshead (Bob) or as I've always called him "Bobby", was born in the Dawson Creek Hospital on April 17th 1948. His proud parents took him home to the farm and for the rest of his life Doe River was home. He didn't always live there but he always went back. It was home. Life on the farm was good in those days. Gramma and Grandpa Johnson lived a hop skip and jump away and the grandparents on the Hollingshead side lived just up the road. During Bob's early life he was surrounded by family.. aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents.they were all there. If that didn't make a kid secure nothing would. His early years were pretty typical of a farm kid. No TV, computers, X boxes -probably no electricity at that time. No reliable transportation. Well, except for him. As far back as I can remember he had a horse. Not the typical old nag with no saddle that us kids had to mosey around the country on. Even as a little shaver, his horses were pretty torky. When Bobby was old enough to start school he joined the rest of us at the little 3 room school house just down the road a piece and like most of the rest of us his age, what education we got, was got there. Bob has always loved animals but his passion , when he was younger at least, was horses. I guess it was much like a young person owning a car, or a pick-up truck today. You always want the fastest and the best with all the bells and whistles. I'm sure his Mom has a few pictures of him on his horse when he was young. To me he always looked like a Tom Sawyer type. Big blue eyes, a face full of freckles, bare feet and looking for trouble. That's kind of how I remember him. Bob must have been pretty happy when Later on, the community got together and built a race track right across from the family farm.I'm sure almost everyone here remembers the Doe River stampede. Some would probably rather forget it. For a few days every year there was a lot of excitement across from the Hollingshead homestead. Of course Bob was in the thick of it racing, and driving the pony chuck wagons and generally making a nuisance of himself. Most of the time he came thru unscathed. As far as we know anyhow. As Melissa fondly remembers, "rodeos were a big part of their lives when they were growing up". Somewhere in those years he took on another hobby. Now it seems quite a leap to go from horse racing to square dancing but that is exactly what Bob did for a number of years. Bob loved camping with the family and spent many a summer at the Grande Prairie race track, no doubt rooting for his favorite jockey, his nephew Scot. It seems there is no shortage of family members to cheer on when it comes to horse races. Does the name Sutherland ring a bell? Big time chuck wagon racers. In 1968 Bob and Cindy were married and out of that union were born two beloved daughters- Melissa born in May of 1968 and Melinda in January of 71. Born to him and his second wife Val was Angela, born in March of 88 and Lacey in August of 89. As with the older daughters he remained close. Anyone who knew Bob at all would agree that his family was the most important thing in his life. Bob passed away on Monday, March 5, 2012 in Edmonton, Alberta at the age of 63 years. A Funeral Service was held on Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 1:00 pm from Reynars Funeral Chapel, Pastor Keith Thompson officiated. Interment followed in the Peace View Cemetery. Bob is survived by his beloved Mother; Betty, Daughters; Melissa, Melinda, Angela, and Lacey Grandchildren; Alyssa, Dustin, Kelsey, Brittiany, Gracie, Jason, Myla, Shelby, Cole, Emily and Abbey. Great-Grandchildren; Riley, Dannielle and Lily. Sisters; Judy, Diane(Wayne), Tracy, Kathy(Bob), and numerous nieces and nephews. Memories Presented By Carol Hamre. For friends so wishing, donations may be made in memory of Bob to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon,1480-7th Avenue, Prince George, B.C. V2L 3P2 Very Respectfully Reynars Funeral Home & Crematorium