Robert Ewart Morgan

On September 18, 1943, Robert Ewart Morgan was born to Lilly Alida and William Ewart Morgan in Edmonton, Alberta. Bob married his high school sweetheart Rita Yusep on November 3, 1962. Not long after, they had two children whom they named Cheryl and Dean.

Bob’s appreciation for delicious food and passion for baking and cooking translated into an accomplished career in baking and culinary arts. As a high school student, he worked as a baking assistant in the kitchen of the Alberta Hospital. He continued to refine his baking skills while working at Bee Bell Bakery and Safeway. In 1969, Bob was hired as a baking instructor in NAIT’s Commercial and Apprentice Baking program. In addition to being an instructor, Bob’s natural leadership abilities lead to him being promoted to the position of department head. Bob was especially proud of his contributions in establishing Skills Canada Alberta and the Red Seal exam for apprentice bakers as well as achieving his Bachelor of Education at the University of Alberta. Bob’s career at NAIT spanned 31 years. Because he was a valued and popular instructor who wanted to remain connected to the world of teaching and learning and because he loved working with youth, he was contracted to tutor NAIT students and was instrumental in helping them to succeed academically and to become confident in their personal and professional lives.

Another of Bob’s passions was travel. As a young married couple, Bob and Rita were determined to find ways to finance annual vacations for their family to enjoy. In the early years, they would travel as far as half their money would take them then turn around and return home. Over the years, their adventures included countless local road trips, vacations across Canada and the USA as well as overseas travel, often with family and good friends. Bob loved nature, was drawn to the outdoors and was an avid camper. Bob and Rita often happily reminisced how their camping accommodations evolved from camping in the back of a truck, to camping in a tent, a tent trailer, a van, in trailers, and in motorhomes. Other outdoor activities that Bob loved to take part in included downhill skiing, curling and golf.

Bob and Rita purchased a farm near Redwater, Alberta which for decades became the gathering place of family and friends. Loved ones would spend weekends in their tent trailers and campers and some mornings Bob found himself cooking breakfast for dozens of people. Cutting the grass of the expansive yard was a task Bob loved doing atop his coveted riding mower; there were only a privileged few who ever got between Bob and his John Deere.

In addition to being an excellent baker and cook, Bob was a potter, a painter, a poet, and a jewellery maker. Many people benefitted from his generosity by having delicious meals prepared for them or receiving pieces of his artwork. Bob was also a singer whose beautifully resonant baritone voice served him well throughout his 14-year membership in the St. David’s Welsh Male Voice Choir. Bob was immensely proud to be a member of this choir, first established in 1904. He loved the community, the camaraderie, his time as Publicity Coordinator on the executive and the opportunity to sing alongside his cherished choir mates. The desserts he and Rita made for the Christmas and Spring concerts were always greatly anticipated and enjoyed by choir and audience members alike. He was especially proud of the fact that his father had also been a member of the same choir.

Bob was an intelligent and creative, thoughtful and curious, friendly and loyal, funny and charismatic man. He was a loving and devoted husband, father and father-in-law, brother and brother-in-law, uncle and friend who was admired by all whose lives he touched. From a young age, he became a responsible pet owner and he always considered his beloved dogs an extension of his family.

Bob passed peacefully surrounded by his family at the University of Alberta Hospital on February 2, 2026. He is survived by his wife Rita, his children Cheryl (Suzanne) and Dean (Ramona), his brother Charles (Delilah), brother-in-law Tom, nieces, nephews and good friends. He left this world saying that he wanted those he was leaving to be ‘safe and happy’. We thank him for gracing our lives with who he was and we take his words to heart as we bid him farewell.

Thank you to the University of Alberta Hospital Emergency and ICU staff who provided exceptional support and counsel to Bob, Rita and their family while Bob was in their care.

At Bob’s request, there is no funeral service. In lieu of flowers, you are invited to make a donation to the Myasthenia Gravis Society of Canada (https://mgcanada.org) or the Humane Society (edmontonhumanesociety.com).

To enjoy a video of Bob singing the beautiful Welsh lullaby ‘Suo Gan’, accompanied by Audrey Stewart on her harp, visit https://stdavidswelshmalevoicechoir.ca/ . 

Click on ‘Menu’ > ‘Photopages’ > ‘Choir Photos-2019’ then scroll down and click on Bob Morgan’s photo and text below.

To listen to Bob being interviewed by Global News, access the above choir website, click on ‘Links’ > ‘Global News Spot’.