William Gray Hosie

William Gray Hosie left this world with a smile on his face in the arms of his beloved wife and surrounded by his three children.

Bill, Billy, or “Mr. Hosie, SIR” to those who knew him, was born October 15th, 1941 in Aberdeen, Scotland and was the middle child of three (brother Tommy, sister Dorothy).

Many will remember him as the actor with the golden singing voice, however, we won’t spend this time talking about his extraordinary accomplishments as a theatre artist, but rather who he was to us.

Bill Hosie was a loving husband and an amazing dad. His quick wit, sense of humour, and ability to make anyone feel seen and comfortable, were just a few of his magical powers. He had a sharp mind to go with his sharp wit (which was present until the very end) and a genuine thirst for knowledge. In his twenties, he read the Encyclopedia from A to Z.

Anyone who spent five minutes with Bill knew he loved cryptic crossword puzzles and he was devoted to completing them every day. For many years he could be found in the early morning at the A&W having his coffee, reading the paper, and doing the cryptic… often with brother-in-law, Jon. His afternoons were spent on the golf course with some of his dearest friends.

He had a phenomenal memory for music and would often spontaneously break out singing, especially if you said a word or name from a song he knew.

He was a kind and thoughtful man who was always quietly doing good deeds for strangers, and his friends knew they could always rely on him if they needed help.

His back porch was his favourite place to sit. Friends, neighbours, and even the neighbours’ pets, always knew they were welcome to come and visit with him there.

He cherished a meaningful goodbye. Farewells, as you drove away, always consisted of him waving to you until you were completely out of sight, a habit he inherited from Ma Hosie, his wonderful Scottish Mother.

He was a romantic husband who very often left little notes around the house for his wife, which always started with “Hello Dear” and ended with “Love, Me.”

He was a wonderful listener and relished a great story. He loved to laugh and he loved to make others laugh.

He spent the last hours of his life surrounded by his family, reading from his sacred book… the dictionary!

He is survived by the love of his life, wife, and best friend, Sylvia; his son, Caldon, who has his kind blue eyes (wife, Melanie, grandchildren, Liam and Maila, & grand-dog Peppa); his son, Grayson, who has his curious mind (wife, Connie, grandson, Logan, & grand-dog Caber); and his daughter, Sara-Jeanne, who has his gift of song (husband, Kevin, & grand-dog, Frannie)

Bill Hosie, you will be deeply missed by all who knew you. The music you gave us will inspire us forever and the laughter you gave us will carry us through our darkest moments. Cheerio, Billy! We love you.

A celebration of life will be organized for later in the year, and in lieu of gifts and flowers, please send a donation to Victoria Hospice for their compassionate work. (www.victoriahospice.org)