Obituary of Clifford Bawden

Cliff Bawden of Sedgewick, Alberta passed away at home, on the morning of June 16, 2013, at the age of 89 years. Cliff was born in Kinsella, Alberta on January 16, 1924, the younger of two children born to Jack and Jean Bawden. He was predeceased by his wife Ann, and his sister Jean (Jack) McKie. He will be missed and lovingly remembered by his daughter Mary (John) Lougheed, son Jack (Jayne) Bawden, granddaughters Ann and Sarah Bawden, caregiver Marites Mercado, nephews Mac (Lorraine) and Fraser (Margaret) McKie, the Weber family relatives, and many friends. Cliff led a very full and interesting life, beginning on a small farm south of Kinsella, and over the years living and working in many parts of the world. His career in education began with attending Normal School in 1940, and his first teaching position was at Crooked Creek in Northern Alberta. In 1942, at the age of 18, he enlisted with the R.C.A.F. and was trained as a pilot and bomb aimer in England. He returned to Canada, and on November 3, 1945 married Ann Weber from Sedgewick. They lived in Edmonton while he attended the U of A, graduating with a B. Ed. and M. Ed. Their children, Mary and Jack, came to them in 1951 and 1952. The following years saw their family in many different locations including Yellowknife, Camrose, France, Meeting Creek, Tanzania, Rocky Mountain House, and St. Vincent, West Indies. Cliff's work was primarily as a school principal or college administrator. He also was known wherever he went as a man who would fix and repair a wide variety of things, always willing to help anyone who needed a hand. After the children became independent, Cliff and Ann continued their travelling ways, living in such diverse places as Edmonton, Chateh in Northern Alberta, and Malawi in Africa. Eventually they retired to the family farm near Sedgewick, where Cliff kept active, working with the local Historical Society, helping with field work, providing for the many birds that frequented the feeding station by the house, doing crosswords, making music on his guitar, and playing snooker. He was a talented pool player, and won a silver medal in the Canada Senior Games. Cliff was a man of great character, and was very dedicated to his family, true to his friends, and supportive to his colleagues and many students. He was well liked and respected by all who knew him and worked with him, and he will be greatly missed. As Cliff requested, there will be no Memorial Service. Those wishing to may send messages to jackbawden@shaw.ca. Memorial donations can be directed to the Sedgewick Historical Society, Box 538 Sedgewick, AB, T0B 4C0.