Welcome to the Hooey Family website

This page is to honor of my parents Ron and Marge Hooey who chose to adopt my sister Patti-Robin and myself and make us a part of their lives and legacy.

Sadly, they were both taken in 1999. Dad passed away on February 11 (his 82 birthday) and Mom passed away on August 20 that same year.

Their input, love and devotion will never be forgotten in our lives.

This is where I (Robert David) enter the Hooey clan. My sister (Patti-Robin) was not born yet. She'd be along in 2.5 years though!

This is my Mom (Lillian Marjorie) holding me, my Dad (Ronald Howard) with Mickey the dog sitting on his lap, my cousin Marjorie Ann, and Mom's two older sisters, Evelyn (light outfit) and Hazel (dark outfit).

Both Mom and Dad were the youngest in their respective families. Mom from Olds, AB and Dad from Estevan, SK.

Let me tell you how Mom and Dad met.

During WWII, Dad was serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force and befriended one of Mom's older brothers (Ralph Shackleton), who brought this Saskatchewan farm boy to Olds on leave. This is where he met Mom, who was home on holidays from teaching in Claresholm, AB. I guess things evolved as they later got married following the end of the war in 1944.

This is Grandma Hooey on a rare visit to see us in Calgary where we lived for the first 7 years of my life. She lived in Regina with one of Dad's older sisters and wasn't able to travel much. My grandma Shackleton lived in Olds and we saw her more frequently on visits.

Both my grandfathers were gone before I came on the scene and both grandma's died when I was very young too.

Roy Rogers and Dale Evans move over...

Patti-Robin and I were avid fans... and even had all the gear. I wanted to be a cowboy or a professional speaker when I grew up.

Turns out I was allergic to hay, so I moved on to the speaking and training arena. Patti moved on to become very good with computers and has spent the last 25 years or so working with Department of National Defence. She doesn't get to carry a gun though. I'm just shooting off my mouth a lot.

When I was 7 and Patti-Robin was 5, Dad got a job in Ventura, California working for a Goodyear Dealership and Mom resumed her teaching career.

Dad went down early to get started and Mom, myself, and Patti-Robin flew down to meet him. Our first plane ride arriving in LA. For me, the start of many plane rides to this point in my life.

Notice, even then, I took work with me on the plane... Gee, I wondered where that came from...

Santa and me... a life long friendship!

Mom and Dad got me started early with visits and a picture with this jolly man.

In my adult years, I would continue the tradition and mail them to Mom, who loved getting new ones each year.

I still get pictures done, even tho' Mom is not here to see them... my sister now gets the pleasure... lol

Patti-Robin and me in California with Tippi, our dog at that time.

Notice my intelligent look (short hair and glasses), at least that was what Mom used to tell me. Somehow I didn't think the teenage girls agreed with her estimation. The glasses were also the end of my dream to become an air force pilot... oh well!

We moved back to Canada in 1963 to Edmonton, Alberta.

Meet my brother-in-deed, Jerry Cholak

Patti and Jerry have been married for well over 25 years. Jerry fully adopted our folks as his own and demonstrated his love and care in so many ways.

Here he is at one of our Victoria Christmas' at Mom & Dad's. We would open our presents and then have way too much to eat!

Jerry has been more than a brother-in-law to me. On many levels he is the brother I never had, even tho' Patti tried to be one when we were young... (she was a tom-boy for sure)

Patti-Robin and Mom relaxing after opening some presents.

Patti-Robin and Mom had a special bond... they'd talk to each other each evening just to touch base. I'm not sure who enjoyed it more, but I know Patti misses those conversations.

You've probably seen this picture on the Dedication page of my www.ideaman.net site.

I thought I would include it here as it showed Dad and Mom still had the passion after 50 years. Embarassed me when I was younger. Now, it gives me hope!

They would share that passion until death separated them in 1999.

This is me caught speaking somewhere...

I moved into speaking and training professionally on a full time basis in 1998.

It has been a very fulfilling career that has taken me across North America and 7 countries on 3 continents, so far. Mom & Dad were so proud of my new career.

I invite you to visit my site: www.ideaman.net

This is my cousin, Marjorie Ann, who lives in Langley, BC.

I include her picture here for the simple reason that she has become very much a part of our family over the years. She has been very close to me following the death of Mom and Dad. I frequently stop off when in Langley to chat.

She lost her parents long before mine and adopted Mom & Dad.

On October 4th, 2009 I 'officially' got a whole new family, when Irene and I got married in Las Vegas.

Irene and I grew closer after we reconnected 25 or so years after we originally met at my sister's wedding.

I am so privileged to have her as a friend, lover, wife, proof reader, web designer and fellow traveller.

I now have her mom (pictured here talking to Irene's daughter, Amanda in Australia), and dad, her son Alex, and other assorted family members who have made me feel very welcome.

Sadly we lost George (April 7th) and Lil (Dec. 10th) 2014. I will miss them and cherish our memories.

Bob is a motivational, inspirational, innovative business and association keynote conference speaker and corporate leadership trainer, success coach and author. We will not share or sell your name as your privacy is important. Yes, send me my own personal copy now!