OATES-Allan Blair (Al); a loving husband, father, grandpa, brother, and friend passed away at the Foothills Medical Centre on Monday, February 19, 2018 at the age of 74 years. Allan was a proud military man serving both in the U.S. Marines and the Canadian Armed Forces. He loved and took pride in his home in Calgary; also enjoyed spending time with and exploring the great outdoors with his true love Betty. They spent many days camping, canoeing, and traveling the world with friends and family. Allan also spent many hours on his hobbies of planes, trains and automobiles including those of the virtual kind. He had a passion for music everything from the classics to playing the spoons in a kitchen party. Allan will be remembered for his true devotion to his number one priority; his family. We thank-you Allan for an example of what it means to be a proud, caring man; setting the standards that we now live by and encouraging us to be the people we are. Your admirable spirit, strength, and incredible sense of humour always shone through even in your sickest days.

Allan will be dearly missed by his loving wife of 51 years Betty Oates (nee Mountain); his daughters Terri-Lee (Mark) Shykula, Corri-Lynn (Brad) Deitsch; his grandchildren Nicholas and Adam Shykula, Braedan and Kayci Deitsch; his sisters and brother: Nikki (John)Macarthur, Doug Oates, Debbie (Ray) Tannas, Penny (Steve) Vukelich, Cyndy (Kurt) Mork, Melody Drescher, Candice Oates, Leslee (Al) Madge. He is also survived by his loving extended family: Trudy (Winston) MacDonald, Tom (Brenda) Mountain, Shirley (Danny) MacKay, Linda (Eric) Barker as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.

Join us for a time to remember and honour the wonderful man we all cherish and hold closely in our hearts on Saturday, March 10th, 2018 at 18:00 hours at the Military Museums, 4520 Crowchild Trail SW, Calgary, AB.
During this short medical journey, we were blessed to receive outstanding, compassionate care by the teams we encountered.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made directly to support The Division of General Internal Medicine at the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary. Cheques should be made payable to “University of Calgary” with “in memory of Allan Oates” in the memo line and mailed to: Fund Development Office, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N1, or to the charity of your choice.

To view and share photos, condolences and stories of Allan, please visit www.choicememorial.com.