With immense gratitude for a life well-lived, we announce the passing of our precious dad, Bob Morrow, a beloved husband, father, Grampa, uncle and friend. Dad passed away peacefully at Hogarth Riverview Manor on July 13 with family by his side. He passed knowing how deeply he was loved and is reunited in heaven with his beloved wife Beverley and daughter Sandra. He was born in Thunder Bay (formerly) Port Arthur on May 08, 1936 to Pearl and Albert Morrow. Bob and his two identical brothers were the first set of triplets born at the Port Arthur General Hospital. He was raised with his 5 surviving siblings on the family farm in Murillo.
From a young age he was curious how things worked and how he could fix them. He never bought anything he couldn’t fix himself. When he was in high school he made a television from scratch. Out of high school, dad worked at Hydro briefly before getting into the field of telecommunications (briefly with TBaytel) and Bell Canada for 37 years as a proud central office technician. He was an integral part of Bell’s coast to coast transition from analog to digital communications in 1990 and 1991. Due to the fact that he was highly trusted for his honesty and sound financial advice he was chosen by his fellow employees to co-manage the local Bell credit union branch. Dad was awarded an Honorary Life membership to the Communication and Electrical Workers of Canada and the Telephone Pioneers of America. He made many lifelong friends at Bell.
Dad and mom were raised in Murillo and attended the same one room school house where dad’s mother was the teacher. Dad played hockey with mom’s brothers and frequently played cards at the Martyn bunkhouse. They were often in each other’s presence and ultimately a romance blossomed. They were married in 1963 and raised our family in the beautiful, loving home they built together on Avondale Place in Thunder Bay.
Dad coached and refereed minor hockey for many years as well as little league baseball. He was very proud of the young fellows and their accomplishments. Years later when he and mom were out and about, if they saw one of these now grown men, they would still call dad “coach” and tell him what a positive influence he was in their young lives.
Dad always had a pencil or pen in his hand and loved math. He would scrawl calculations on whatever piece of paper he could find. He loved playing casino games like Keno and was happiest when he was solving any numerical problem, always doing manual calculations. His passion for electronics and electrical and mechanical things enabled him to be proficient at fixing almost anything. He was meticulous in his work and wired two homes which passed inspection without question.
Dad and mom enjoyed travelling with lifelong friends Karen and Jim Dowhaniuk and Selvian and Dave Dalton to Las Vegas and Minneapolis and taking our families on camping trips together. They enjoyed their trips to Arizona to visit Joan and Floyd and family and also made many precious memories taking our gramma Edie on trips to Florida, Expo ’86 and to various casinos over the years. In their later years, mom and dad thoroughly enjoyed their monthly trips to casinos in Hinckley, Grand Portage, and Black Bear in Minnesota, and going out for breakfast Saturday mornings. Another trip they particularly enjoyed was to the Grand Canyon where dad walked halfway down the canyon with his twin brother Bill. Many cherished memories were made with family, friends and neighbours at camp which dad and mom renovated and turned into their home on Lake Shebandowan from 1979 to 2012. Endless hours of enjoyment and laughs were shared around bonfires, playing cards, fishing for pickerel and bass, building forts, saunaing, swimming and going for boat rides. He was a family man and enjoyed nothing more than spending time with his children, grandchildren, his siblings and Bev’s siblings. He had a special bond with his twin brother Bill which he treasured. He was intensely proud of his children and grandchildren and loved us unconditionally. Dad was a firm yet fair man and always gave considerable thought to whatever advice he provided. He would help anyone that needed or asked for help.
Bob is survived by daughter Randi (Kerry) Monteith, daughter Karen (Peter) McGuinness, son Kevin (Candy) Morrow; grandchildren Kylee Monteith, Quinn (Adam) Monteith, Lauren McGuinness, Brendan McGuinness, Caitlin Morrow and Michael Morrow; brothers George (Lorraine) Morrow, Terry (Valerie) Morrow, sister-in-law Barbara Morrow, brothers-in-law Clinton, Milton, Morley (Thelma) Martyn; sisters-in-law Holly Chornawka, Flora Martyn, Marlene Bell, Sharon (Dave) Takalo, Sandra (Rod) Duke, Sheila Vaillant and June Martyn.
Dad was predeceased by our mom Beverley Morrow (nee Martyn) on February 01, 2025, daughter Sandra Joy Morrow (in 1978), parents Albert and Pearl (Goodfellow) Morrow, brothers Dale (Marilyn) Morrow, William Morrow (Bob’s twin) and one of their triplet brothers in infancy, sister Joan (Floyd) Romano and nephews Brad Romano and Andy (Paula) Morrow. In-laws Edith and Rolland Martyn; brothers-in-law Melvin (aka Bob), Leonard (aka Jiggs) (Elinor) Martyn and Buster Martyn; sisters-in-law Gladys (Happy) Holland, Thelma Martyn and Jannette Martyn; brothers-in-law Jimmy Bell, Grant Vaillant (infants William and Heather); nephews Ken Martyn, Jeff Martyn and Blaine Chornawka; nieces Debbie Bell, Jennifer Ahola and Donna Wilson.
Our family wishes to thank the staff at Hogarth Riverview Manor floor 5 North Marigold for their kindness and caring for dad like a member of their family. We are also eternally grateful to his new friend Doug for his kindness and always keeping an eye on dad for us. We are grateful to those who always went the extra mile to help us maintain the highest quality of life for dad including: Dr. Tassone and her Fort William clinic staff, the staff at Amplifon Thunder Bay, his Hospice Northwest visitors, Bell Canada friends and nephew Louis Morrow, nieces Anne Dorval and Susan Lui for visits with his brother George at Hogarth.
Cremation has taken place and as per Dad’s wishes, there will be no service. A private family interment will take place at St. James Church Cemetery in Murillo in summer of 2026. If so desired, in lieu of flowers, donations in dad’s memory to St. James Anglican Church in Murillo, St. Joseph’s Foundation of Thunder Bay (sjftb.net) or a charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated.
We will always carry your love and memories with us,
and you will be forever in our hearts.
Thank you for always being there for us.
~ Sincerely Randi, Karen and Kevin and families.
Condolences may be made through www.nwfainc.com
