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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
GRAY, William Hamilton (Bill) - was a lifelong proud citizen of Winnipeg and extremely devoted family man to his six children, 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Helen (2011), and eldest son Bill (2010). At Gordon Bell High School, he was Valedictorian and a Governor General's medalist. After receiving scholarships from both the University of Manitoba and Queen's University, he graduated in 1940 with a B.A/ B.Comm from Queen's. He was a proud alumnus of Queen's, with three children and four grandchildren to follow in his footsteps. He won the 1941 Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) Silver Medal before serving as an Officer of the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. After the war, he started his distinguished chartered accountancy career, retiring as a partner of Price Waterhouse in 1980. In 2008, Bill was the recipient of the Manitoba Chartered Accountants Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2012, he received a Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal which served to honour an elite number of Canadians for their significant contributions and achievements. His extensive community service included posts as Chairman and/ or President of the Board of Governor's University of Manitoba, Board of Regents at University of Winnipeg, Canadian Foundation for Economic Education, Canadian Club of Winnipeg, Manitoba Chamber of Commerce, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, West Hawk Yacht Club, Winnipeg Squash Racquets, and Boy Scouts and Cubs Canada. He was a member of the Manitoba Club, St. Charles Country Club, and Winnipeg Winter Club. He lectured extensively for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Manitoba and the Manitoba Law Society. His "retirement" included volunteer assignments with Canadian Executive Services Overseas in Tuvalu, Lesotho, and Costa Rica. He participated in overseas assignments with Price Waterhouse to East Malaysia and Bermuda. Bill was an athlete, intellect, dog lover, world traveller, noted grammarian, and "proof reader". Most of all, he was a devoted family man who loved to ski, sail, golf, and spend summers at Victoria Beach and West Hawk Lake. Admired for his positive nature, quick wit, curiosity, generosity, and tireless zest for life, Bill will be deeply missed. He is survived by his children Ainslie, Nancy (Allan Smeall), Barbara (Ted Bigelow), Ian, and Cari (John Canning), grandchildren Colin (Sarah), Trevor (Isabelle), Mollee, and Ty Gray, Cameron, Andrew (Sarah Black), Laura (Craig Losos), and Ian MacNiven, Jeffrey, James, and David Bigelow, Dillon, Hannah, and Derek Gray, and Isla Canning, as well as great-grandchildren Jillian, Kate, and Noah Gray, and Dean Losos. A private family service will be held. Donations in Bill's honour can be made to the charity of your choice. Neil Bardal Funeral Centre. (The Winnipeg Free Press 01 Aug 2015)
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