Clifford Albert Hoey March 23, 1934 鈥� February 2, 2015. 鈥楾he Day is Done鈥� and the precious life of Clifford Albert Hoey of North Battleford 鈥榮ilently (stole) away鈥� Monday, February 2, 2015 at Battlefords Union Hospital. Cliff died at the age of 80 years, following a brief illness. Cliff leaves to cherish his life and mourn his passing his loving partner and wife of 35 years Linda Lewis; his sisters Bernice Sinclair, Kinistino, SK and Shirley Turgeon, Toronto, ON; his daughter Debbi (Mark) Toole, Saltspring Island, BC; his sons Daryl (Glenda) Hoey, Wainwright, AB and Allan (Lorraine) Hoey, Ottawa, ON; their mother Pat Hoey, North Battleford; six grandchildren Meaghen (Erikk) Isfeld and Erin Toole, Victoria, BC; Jennifer (Jay) Simpson, Wainwright, AB, Cheryl (Aaron) Long, Lloydminster, AB, 聽Ashley Hoey and Marshall Hoey, Ottawa; four great grandchildren Amy Long, and Emmalee, Mackenzie and Alex Simpson; sisters-in-law Cheryl McKay, Victoria BC; Heather (Larry) Weise and family Jeremy (Laura) Lewis and Michael (Natasha) Hayward, Stoughton, SK; Tracy (Tylor) McGrath & children Mikaela, Holly and Travis, 聽 聽 聽 聽Watrous, SK; brother-in-law David Lewis (Barb Schmidt), Saskatoon, SK; and numerous nieces, 聽 聽 nephews and cousins. Cliff was predeceased by his parents Joseph & Hazel Hoey of Kinistino, SK; brothers-in-law Lloyd Sinclair, Kinistino and Ted Turgeon, Toronto, ON; and parents-in-law Frank & Thora Lewis, Watrous, SK. Cliff was born at Melfort, SK during the Great Depression. He and his sisters 聽Bernie and Shirl grew up on the family farm at Kinistino, wrapped in the boundless love of their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. During these early childhood years, Cliff developed a love of nature that would be a touchstone through his lifetime. He was inspired by the wonder of birds, and awed by the gentle power and grace of draft horses. His boyhood days were filled with simple adventures, the joy of family and laughter, the curiosity of youth, and an occasional scolding for some mischievous misadventure. Cliff鈥檚 world and that of his sisters was shaken by the death of their mother in 1944, followed soon after by the death of their father in 1946. Cliff and his sisters were then raised by their aunt and uncle Florence and Ancil Paynter of Kinistino. The care and support of Aunt and Uncle enabled Cliff, Bernie and Shirl to remain together, further strengthening the love and ties that bind them tightly to this day. In his late teens, Cliff began working at the Kinistino Post newspaper, setting him on a career path that would last more than 30 years. He married Patricia Marshall of Kinistino on March 31, 1956. In July of 1957, the couple and their infant daughter moved to North Battleford where Cliff accepted a job with the McIntosh Publishing Company, printers of the North Battleford News-Optimist. Cliff worked as a compositor at the newspaper, putting the pages together through the genesis of printing from hot lead and hand-pick type, through linotypes, paste up, and offset printing. After three decades of progress and change, and the endless pressure of publishing deadlines, Cliff retired from the News-Optimist in August 1987 as composing room foreman. Cliff and Pat have three children: Debbi, Daryl and Allan. Cliff shared with his children his joy of reading and his enduring love of poetry. He was well known by family and friends to spontaneously recite poems he had learned in childhood. His strong, deep voice often broke forth in his favourite songs. He 聽 聽 engendered in his children the enjoyment of music, an appreciation of the written and spoken word; reverence for beauty and the natural world; and the importance of hard work in making one鈥檚 own way in life. He shared his love of baseball and hockey 鈥� particularly of the 聽 Toronto Maple Leafs. He loved to tease and laugh, and had a wonderful sense of humour. 鈥淭he gang鈥� from the News-Optimist became an extended family of colleagues and friends who worked and socialized together. Cliff cherished these relationships for the rest of his life. Cliff and Linda shared the next 35 years of their lives together. They married on August 17, 1985 and continued to make their home in North Battleford. Cliff and Linda enjoyed frequent visits to Kinistino and Toronto to see his sisters and their families. Cliff welcomed Linda鈥檚 parents, sisters and brother as his own, spending lots of time in Watrous where he had visited as a child. He grew particularly close to Linda鈥檚 youngest sister Tracy (Lewis) McGrath, husband Tylor McGrath and their children Mikaela, Holly and Travis. Many special holidays were spent in Watrous, as well as in Victoria with Linda鈥檚 sister Cheryl McKay. Cliff was deeply loved by Dave & Barb of Saskatoon, and by Heather, Larry, Jeremy and Michael of Stoughton. Cliff and Linda loved their home and garden, spending as much time as they could working in and enjoying their backyard. Their greatest joy was time spent home together, with their fur children (the cats) close by. Cliff was blessed in 2008 to realize his greatest dream 鈥� visiting Ireland: 鈥榯he Old Sod鈥� as he called it - and getting in touch with his Irish roots. Cliff was proud of his Irish heritage and excitedly shared the trip with wife Linda and sister Shirl. Cliff loved history, learning about and imagining the way things were in 鈥榯he old days鈥�. After retiring from the News-Optimist, he pushed himself beyond his comfort zone and sought a job as a tour guide at Fort Battleford National Historic Park. He found his heart鈥檚 calling and relished the several summers he spent working at The Fort passionately telling the story of its early years. Cliff humbly accepted the many compliments he received on the quality of his tours and the enthusiasm with which he imbued the Fort鈥檚 history. He was told many times how perfectly he fit the role of a dignified, distinguished North West Mounted Police officer resplendent in his period costume of Red Serge and Pillbox hat. Cliff ended his worklife at Ultra Print in North Battleford, working for and with several of his friends from the McIntosh Publishing days. In retirement, Cliff gave back to his community, canvassing for select charities, supporting The Battlefords North Stars as a season ticket holder, and volunteering and 聽 聽 聽maintaining membership in the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 70 North Battleford. Cliff served eight years as a Board member of the North Battleford Housing Authority, retiring from the position in December 2014. Cliff鈥檚 was a life well lived. He was 鈥榓 good man鈥�.
