Robert John Doherty

Robert John Doherty of Pincher Creek, beloved husband of the late Lorna Baikie Doherty, passed away peacefully on October 21, 2025 at the age of 84 years. Robert is survived by his daughter, Tracey Doherty, and grandson, Arnaud Montgrand (Diamantina), sisters Jean Hoover (Roy), Loree Marcer (Reg), Lorae Fleming (John) and Mareea Maynes, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and their families. Robert was predeceased by his father Ernest Doherty and mother Bessie Bell Maynes Doherty.
Robert, whom many friends knew as “Bob”, was born March 19, 1941 in Hamiota, Manitoba, graduated from Rivers (MB) Collegiate in 1958, joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1959 and worked as an air traffic controller to 1972 at CFB Portage La Prairie, MB. Bob and Lorna married in Goose Bay, Labrador August 25, 1962.
Bob dreamed of having a Labrador farm and returned there in 1972, first working as a fireman, then as Director of the Labrador branch of the federal Department of Regional Economic Expansion. Although the poultry farm was short-lived, he did bring in 5000 egg-laying chickens to an old American transmitter site he had refurbished with friends and family. As this was before the Labrador highway completion, it was a feat the pilot remarked not previously done, and they had had to keep the aircraft’s doors open to balance the heat created by those hens!
In 1978 Bob, Lorna and Tracey moved to Fort McMurray where he worked for Syncrude for 19 years, first as an equipment operator and completing his career as a Mine Supervisor and Quality Control Officer. Bob retired at 55 and moved to the Pincher Creek MD with Lorna. He had also fulfilled his dream of obtaining his pilot’s licence. He was often looking through the history of Ireland and specifically the history of the Doherty lineage.
After Lorna’s passing in 2013, he met his companion Hannelore Hammoser in 2016 and enjoyed spending time with her and his ‘stepdaughter’ Caron. They explored the beauty of the mountains, and with Hannelore he took a trip back to Fort McMurray. Robert, Tracey, Hannelore and Caron enjoyed playing Skipbo together in the summer of 2025.
Bob often cited Desiderata to his daughter, which exemplified his life philosophy: “You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars you have a right to be here! No doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.”
Although he did not want a formal service, he said he would be happy for family and friends to raise a glass or have a bite to eat in his memory.

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