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After a miraculously enduring battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, on March 4, 2019, Richard Neil Watson, beloved husband of Eleanor Marie Sisson, died at the young age of 68, in his wife's arms in Cowichan District Hospital. He is survived by his wife, two sons Neil and Keith; grandsons Todd and Doug and brother, Simon. His eldest brother, Michael, and parents, John and Margaret, predeceased him.

Richard was born on May 31, 1950, in Gately, Cheadle, Cheshire, England, where he grew up. He excelled in many academic areas, including the sciences, gaining a degree in mechanical engineering. In his early 20's, his yen for travelling landed him in Africa where he lived and worked, initially as an engineer and later as a computer analyst. After 24 years of living and working in various expanses of Africa he moved to Canada where he met his wife, Eleanor. His final employment position was 'director of planning' for a global manufacturing company.

Richard was a brilliant mind, an adventurer, a driven professional, a gentle, dignified and humble man and a quietly loving husband and father. He was an avid reader and sailor who also practiced his strong hankering for cooking, hiking, travelling and tinkering with projects, in and around the house. There wasn't much he couldn't do. He lived a full life with an optimistic attitude toward everything. He will be painfully missed by so many, and most certainly by his wife.

Sincere appreciation is expressed to the many 'giving' friends from New Life Church, our close friends from the mainland and new found friends and acquaintances, who have journeyed through all of, or part of, these difficult times with Richard offering kindness, love and corporal gifts. And thanks be given to the chemo and hospice team, the nurses , and those physicians involved in Richard's care for their endless compassion, patience and competence.

A Celebration of his life will be held at New Life Church, 1839 Tzouhalem Road, Duncan BC, at 2 pm on Saturday, March 16th. The family would be honored by your attendance. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Canadian Red Cross Society, Cowichan Hospice Society or the Cowichan District Hospital Foundation, who helped to prolong Richard's life with quality and dignity. 

Service Details

Celebration of Life
Saturday, March 16, 2019
2:00 PM
New Life Church, 1839 Tzouhalem Road, Duncan


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