Bob was born in Rosewood, MB to Robert Vernon Haney and Olive Agnes Haney, and eventually they found their home in Salmon Arm, BC where they started farming at the location now known as Haney Heritage Park.
Bob's love of farming started at a very young age and, in time, he became well versed in all areas of farming that the Haney's were involved in, including fruit orchards, apiary, and a dairy herd, all of which provided the livelihood for the family.
Bob would often tell the many stories of the farm including the construction of the house and barn that are still standing today. The house has been maintained and repaired by the society at Haney Park. Bob often recalled the winter of 1948 when temperatures dipped to minus 45. Bob said they all slept in the upstairs hallway as their coal/wood heating could not keep the house warm. They lost most of their orchards as the trees were snapping and cracking in the cold.
Family issues resulted in Bob and his mother, Olive, leaving the Haney farm and moving about one mile down the road where they purchased a 40 acre farm. Bob continued farming, then at some point, Olive traveled to England and arrived back with Antoinette, a sister Bob never knew he had. Bob, Olive and Antoinette got along famously.
Olive passed away in October of 1983. In 1985, Bob fell off the roof shovelling snow and broke his back. He was in the Vernon hospital for six months. Bob recovered but would always have balance and walking issues. He never let that slow him down and he would always say, "you have to take the good with the bad." Bob and Antoinette continued to live on their farm until 1990, at which time they sold and moved into town. Antoinette determined it was time for Bob to see England so off they went, where Bob met his nieces, Michele and Rosemarie. Bob and Antoinette stayed with Michele in England for 9 months where Bob enjoyed immensely the history he was surrounded with.
Antoinette passed away in September of 1992. This was a blow to Bob but her carried on, helped by the love and caring of his dear friends, Bob and Sheila Cran and family. He would visit them nearly every day and have coffee and discuss just about everything with Bob Cran. This would carry on for years but in time Bob and Sheila Cran passed on. By this time Bob had befriended neighbors so had no problem arranging rides whenever he had to go or resolving issues, he sometimes got himself into. He had lost his drivers license and, true to Bob's character, he immediately called the car dealer at the bottom of the hill to come pick up his car as he no longer needed it.
In 2011, Judith Ashton, daughter of William Ashton, Bob's half brother, came over from Ireland to visit Bob. Bob did not know he had a half brother so a good time was had by all discussing the family tree and all that must have transpired with Olive's family.
Bob fell and broke his hip in 2012 quickly followed by other health issues, so Bob found himself confined to a wheelchair. He was admitted to Hillside Village, here in Salmon Arm, where he was to reside until his passing.
Bob is survived by nieces, Michele Rangecroft (daughter, Natasha Mort and son Malachi) of Yorkshire, UK; Rosemarie Dunne (children Richard, Karen and Siobhan) of Surrey, UK; and Judith Ashton (children Dan and Jack) of Carrickmourne, Ireland.
Many thanks to the caring staff at Hillside Village, Salmon Arm, BC over the seven years they cared for Bob.
There will be no funeral service at Bob's request. Independent to the end. Interment was in Mt. Ida Cemetery, overlooking his mother's grave.
Online condolences may be sent to Bob's obituary at www.bowersfuneralservice.com
Bowers Funeral Home and Crematorium