Robert Edward "Bob" Farris

Robert Edward Farris, "Bob" was born to the late Robert "Bob" and Mary (Corbin) Farris on December 20, 1941. It was an on-going joke that Dad always received one of his Christmas presents for his birthday and in later years his birthday presents started appearing with Christmas wrap so there was no doubt.

Dad passed away peacefully on August 26, 2025, surrounded by his family. Dad’s story began in Meadowview where he spent a wonderful childhood with a younger brother and two older sisters with his grandparents just up the hill. Dad always said he would go back and live his childhood all over again. As the third born and eldest son (with a head full of curls) Dad grew up in a generation where you learned many skills from your elder family members. This served him well when later he would build the home where we were raised and the family cottage that we use today. Dad passed on many of these building and repair skills to my brother Jeff who also enjoys tinkering in his garage. Dad was actively involved in the cadets at Camp Aldershot and playing hockey and ball at a competitive level. He has numerous newspaper clippings to prove he was a rockstar local athlete of his day. Dad went on to use his athletic skill to coach my brother for several years in minor hockey.

He met the love of his life Shirley Mae in high school and they married in 1963. Mom was just 19 and Dad 21. Two years later I appeared, and my brother followed in 1969.

His dream of being an RCMP officer was not possible because he wore glasses (they had to have perfect vision in those days), so he turned his career aspirations to sales. First, as a grocery store assistant manager in Kentville and then spent a few years as a store manager in Bridgewater. Sales opportunities came knocking with Creighton’s Limited and then he spent 18 years as a territory manager with Colgate Palmolive serving most of the province. He met many people over those years, and many became his close friends. He then moved to real estate and was also elected a Kings County Councillor in 1988 where he served a four-year term.

It was from his "on the road" sales days that he was connected to his former business partner, Greg Trefry, who was looking for someone to join him in the healthcare industry. Greg’s father was a former client of Dads. That connection with the senior Trefry put our entire family on a new path by the formation of what would become Family 1st Medical Limited. In 1992 (two years after Dad entered the healthcare field) I joined him, and a family business was born.

With Mom’s support, Dad was able to indulge in many activities that he enjoyed. Hunting, fishing, old timers’ hockey, and summer ball. They traveled to many tournaments and for countless years held hotdog stands during the Apple Blossom Festival.

In the early years Dad spent his hard-earned two-week vacation making sure our family had a vacation in our refurbished pop-up trailer. The White Mountains in the USA, PEI, NB, NFLD and many spots throughout Nova Scotia. Later he built a small cottage on Gaspereau Lake using parts of the camper. In the mid 80’s he built a two-story home where the converted pop-up cottage once stood. Dad spent countless hours "working" in his garage, cutting pallets for firewood and tinkering. Dad LOVED a hot fire. I don’t think any family member can look at a roaring fire without thinking of him. Jeff and I were not always happy about all the wood stacking we had to do as kids to keep his fires going.

Our most sincere thank you to our lake neighbours, Joann and Barry Murphy, who both offered great support to Dad and our mother, Shirley. His "personal baker", Peter Pothier, who brought him countless sweet treats and hosted him for many meals. Thanks to his many friends whose calls were lifelines to him when Mom moved to long-term care and the evenings were long and lonely. Caregiver, Sherry Muise, who coincidentally lives in the home Dad built in 1971 and lived there until 1998, became family to both my parents. She went above and beyond to make sure they were safe, comfortable and cared for.

Dad is survived by his wife, Shirley, Orchard Court/Shannex, Kentville; daughter, Kimberley Monette (Ross); son, Jeffrey Farris (Amy); granddaughters, Rachael Kilpatrick (Kyle), Grand Bay Westfield, NB; Jessica Ahern (Cameron), Middle Sackville, NS; grandson, Gavin Farris; great-grandson, Hayden Ahern; his nephew, Randy Farris (who was more like a younger brother) and many other nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Robert and Mary Farris; brother, Ronald Farris, and sisters, Joan Martin and Shirley Farris.

A celebration of life will be held on September 13, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. in the White Family Funeral Home, Kentville. Donations can be made to the Nova Scotia Heart and Stroke Association or The Alzheimer Society Nova Scotia. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Kentville.