Gordon Frederick MacKenzie Lough passed away peacefully at Broadmead Veterans Memorial Lodge on March 31, 2021. Gordie was predeceased by his wife Beverley in 2011 and by his daughter Penny (Rick), in 1999. He will be dearly missed by daughter Patricia Clinton-Baker (David), and sons Mike (Sherrill) and Jeff (Jeannette), his grandchildren Matthew (Amy), Benjamin (Shoko), Thomas (Nicole), Sarah (Michael), Patrick, Megan (Dave), Robin, Madeline, and great-grandchildren, Freya, Rowan, Dylan, Agnes and Grayson, his nieces and nephews Brian, Dave, Doug, Cathy and Heather, along with his special neighbours and friends. Gordie was born at his parent’s house in Oak Bay on September 27, 1923 where he lived until age 18, attending Monterey and Willows elementary schools, Oak Bay High School and Victoria College. After graduating in 1941, Gordie’s life took a major turn when he enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force and served as a Lancaster pilot in WWII. Returning to Canada after the war, Gordie met the love of his life, Beverley Clark. They married on September 8, 1947 and started their family. In 1950 Gordie graduated from University of British Columbia with a Degree in Education and started his teaching career in Campbell River where he also flew bush planes during the summers. Gordie’s love of flying led him to return to the RCAF as an officer and pilot serving across Canada, in Europe and the United States until retiring to Victoria in 1971. There, Gordie resumed his teaching career at Glenlyon School and the Royal BC Museum, and also studied Linguistics at UVic. After his second retirement, Gordie and Bev travelled the world, always returning to their home and garden back in Oak Bay. They lived happily together there until he lost his dear Bev in 2011. Gordie continued to enjoy living in his home which was a centre for family activities until his health failed in 2017.
Throughout his life, Gordie demonstrated his core values of love of family, community service, honesty and integrity, helping friends and strangers, love of outdoor activities and involvement with their Oak Bay United Church Community. Gord and Bev remained active throughout their lives with swimming, biking, camping, boating, fishing, lawn bowling, badminton and curling. Gordie loved all animals, especially his amazing dogs.
With the Vancouver Island Aircrew Association, Gord found camaraderie with those kindred spirits who shared his love of flying.
The family would like to thank both the Jubilee Hospital and the incredible staff at Veterans Memorial Lodge at Broadmead, who loved and cared for Gordie in his final years. For that, his family is eternally grateful. We are also thankful for the support of Rev. Michelle Slater. With regret, due to the pandemic, a Celebration of Life will be postponed and announced at a later date.
There will be a flypast in the Missing Man Formation in Gord’s honour over Oak Bay at 10 am, Saturday, April 10, 2021. To view the service please check on the link below.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FTAwmU31_Cp-87inlwqPALhBW311yvBQ/view?ts=60726647
We recently found a great video of the “Missing Man” flight over Dad’s outdoor memorial service at the Oak Bay cenotaph last spring. The link is open for public viewing on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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Mark Beere
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Gary and Marilyn Ross Our heartfelt condolences to all of you on the passing of your beloved father, grand father, and great grand father. It was a joy to know him and a privilege to share his friendship over the years, usually when our families would get together. He was always so proud of all of you and delighted to tell us what was going on in each of your lives. He was so enjoyable to be around, so interested in people, naturally warm, and engaging. Our thoughts are with you as you remember him and all the wonderful years you had together.
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Ann and Surinder Kumar Our heartfelt condolences to the family, we are so sorry for your loss. We remember meeting and talking with your dad at Jeannie and Calvin’s a while back. We are thinking of you in this time of sadness.
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Lynda and Barry Curran Thank you for the wonderful tribute to Gordie today — the missing man flypast was so appropriate and touching it brought tears to our eyes. My husband and I knew Bev and Gordie from the days that Bev and I worked at the Gorge Hospital together. Gordie was a very special person, always kind, ethical, interesting, and constantly bringing a smile to the faces of those around him. We were all blessed to know him. May many happy family memories sustain you in your loss.
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Linnea Taylor (nee Lynn Newton) It is with great sadness that I hear of the death of our dear Gordie. He was a close friend to brother Bill and the whole family and part of my growing up in Saanichton.
My condolences to all the family. I wish I could be there to share in your sadness.
Actually I’d like to be there more often on Vancouver Island as I do miss it.
My love to all the family.
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Norene Carr Dear Cousins; I wish you to know how very touched I was to read of Gordy’s passing. What a fantastic ‘human’ he was… He enriched his life with so many
accomplishments, as well as enriching his family and friends lives .
As part of this family I send my love to you all.. Norene
On rare occasion one encounters someone like Gordie Lough. When you meet someone who is decent, kind, ethical and modest, you want them cloned.
Thankfully Gord and Bev had offspring and the two we know are also exceptional.
Our family is sorry for your loss yet celebrates such an stand-out life. Be safe and best wishes.
Love from the Miller-Beere’s.