Hugh Robert Naismith
1960 – 2023

Hugh Robert Naismith of Rocky Mountain House passed away on Dec. 23, 2023, in the Mazankowski Heart Institute in Edmonton due to complications following heart surgery.

He was the second of six children born to Elizabeth (Betty) and Garnet Naismith. The family grew up in Northern Ontario before migrating in waves to Alberta in the late ’70s.

After a chance meeting with Jannell Ondrik while camping along the Ghost River, it was clearly love at first sight and the pair got hitched in 1987. They settled on a beautiful piece of land west of Rocky Mountain House where they could keep some animals and raise their sons Dustin and Josh.

Hugh was born to be a dad and was incredibly proud of his boys, even more so when they made him a “Grampa.” Hugh’s grandchildren had him wrapped around their little fingers and they all knew that they could get a cookie or freezie out of him, no matter that dinner was almost ready and Grandma already said “No.”

While Hugh took pride in doing his job well, he was definitely of the opinion that you work to live, not live to work. To meet Hugh was to know him and he made no secret of what his feelings were on any given subject. Hugh’s irreverent sense of humour left very little sacred when he saw a pot to stir or button to push. He had a magnetic personality that always seemed to draw a group in social situations and he’s one of those characters that everyone who’s met him has a story or Hugh-ism. God forbid you ever told him he couldn’t, because he’d prove you wrong just to prove you wrong. Needless to say, he will be sorely missed.

Hugh is survived by his lovely wife Jannell Naismith; sons Dustin (Michelle) Naismith, Josh (Lindsey) Naismith, Jeff (Jessica) Stoy; the grandchildren Cooper, Beck, Theo, JJ, Jack and Georgia; and siblings Diane (Brad) Naismith, Bev Naismith, Shelley (Dave) Carle, Murray (Carrie) Naismith, and Kim Naismith; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Hugh’s life will be held at the Hardindell Hall on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, at 1 p.m.

Donations in Hugh’s name may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or to the Alberta Diabetes Foundation.

Condolences may be forwarded to: www.rockyfuneralhome.ca.

Cremation entrusted to the Rocky Mountain Crematorium, Rocky Mountain House, Alta.
Rocky and Sylvan Lake Funeral Homes and Crematorium, your Golden Rule Funeral Homes, entrusted with the arrangements, 403-845-2626.