Eugene "Gene" Bardal Musgrove

Eugene (Gene) Bardal Musgrove
June 8, 1937 - November 28, 2015

It is with sadness we announce the sudden passing of Eugene (Gene) Bardal Musgrove on Saturday, November 28th, 2015 at the Didsbury Hospital.  Gene is survived by his wife of 56 years, Betty; son, Boyd (and Kathy) Musgrove; granddaughter, Saoirse; daughter, Sheila Musgrove of Calgary, AB; sister-in-law, Marjorie Musgrove of Virden, MB; niece, Deb & Tim Whales of Whistler, BC; nephews, Murray Musgrove of Virden, MB, Brad Musgrove & Kelly of Stoney Plain, AB and Wes Musgrove of Ft. McMurray. He is pre-deceased by his brother, Jim Musgrove and infant sister, Katharane.
Gene is also remembered by, sisters-in-law, Eileen Blakemore of Beaumont, AB; Dona Dobbyn of Strathclair, MB; Lois Shmyr of Shoal Lake, MB; and brothers-in-law, Wayne McCutcheon of Strathclair, MB; Fred & Donna Miller; Ed & Kathy Miller of Vista, MB. 
Uncle Geeno will be sadly missed by his numerous nieces and nephews, Kathy & Clarence Verbruggen of Hinton, AB; Brent Rockall of High Level, AB; Ernie & Kerri Rockall, Bob & Myrna McCutcheon, Darin Dobbyn & Nancy, Cindy &Troy Leavitt, Jason & Angela McCutcheon, Dan & Donna Shmyr, Trevor & Veronica McCutcheon, Dawn Miller, Dallas Miller, Devon & Troy Mackie, Sean Miller, Lindsay Miller & Phil and Kelsey Miller; along with 16 great nieces and nephews. 
Gene Musgrove was born in Shoal Lake, Manitoba, son to Beatrice and Wilfred.  He grew up on the farm with his only brother, Jim.  After school he became a truck driver before joining the Manitoba Highway’s Department as a grader operator and snow plow operator.  He remained with the Highways department for 15 years before he and Betty made the big decision to move to Hinton in 1974.
Upon arrival in Hinton, he was employed at the Pulp Mill, first as a machine operator and then as a Lubrication Mechanic.  He worked at the mill for 25 years, retiring in 1999.  Prior to retiring, Mom and Dad spent many a weekend searching for the perfect new town to settle in – the requirements were pretty specific.  It needed to be driving distance to Calgary to be close to Boyd, Kathy and Sheila.  The other requirements were a golf course, curling rink and a hospital.  Didsbury was the clear winner.
In 2000, Dad met the Alternative Funeral & Cremation Services Owner, Diann Rowat.  He had always wanted to have a career in the funeral business, so it was a natural fit.  He looked pretty darn spiffy in his funeral suit and loved the 15 years of service.  With Dad, of course he was early, buffed and polished and ready to be a part of an impeccable service. 
Gene was an avid golfer and member of the Hinton and Didsbury clubs.  He enjoyed curling and the many fun bonspiels in Hinton, complete with team costumes!  He was an long term volunteer on the annual Coalminers golf tournament in Hinton. He volunteered on two Senior's Games in Hinton and Didsbury, along with the Tournament of Hearts in Red Deer.
He enjoyed the RV Club travelling around the Province, along with many trips back to Manitoba to see family and friends, and cruises to the Panama Canal, Caribbean and Alaska this past May.  Annual trips to Holiday Park in Kelowna were a highlight each summer. 
He and Betty enjoyed bowling, cards and dinners with their friends in Didsbury.  He LOVED to tell jokes.  He was well known for being the jokester - on colour or off, it didn't matter.  If a joke needed to be told, it needed to be told.  :-) He was incredibly quick witted and very sharp. 
He was in tremendous health all of his life with a few bumps coming in the last few years.  In 2012 he had major heart surgery, followed by a stroke a short time later, with a quick recovery.  He fell off a ladder in 2013 breaking his pelvis, which took its toll.  He was admitted to the Didsbury Hospital for pneumonia which ultimately took his life.
A Celebration of Gene’s Life was held on Friday, December 4, 2015 at the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Didsbury, AB. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Rosebud Health Foundation, PO Box 962, Didsbury, AB, T0M 0W0.