PREVOST, Robert

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona Wednesday, January 21, 2015 Robert Prévost of Wickenburg passed away Jan. 13, 2015, peacefully, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on June 5, 1963, to Octave and Marguerite Prévost, in Bellecombe, Québec, Canada. Growing up on the family farm imparted him with a strong work ethic, an appreciation for nature, and a do-it-yourself attitude that he carried throughout his life. As the sixth child of eight, Robert appreciated the value of a tight-knit family, as exemplified by his own family with his wife Ginny and children Dylan, Emily and Melodie. Robert graduated from College De L’Abitibi-Témiscamingue with a degree in geology. In his career, he specialized in exploration gold mining. His background in science gave him the skills to find the gold, but his optimistic outlook helped him to be truly successful in the face of all doubt. His profession afforded him the opportunity to travel the world, visiting such locales as Australia, Nova Scotia, and Alaska. His youthful dream to travel to Africa was fulfilled when he was assigned to work in Niger and Morocco. A true adventurer at heart, there was no place his wandering path couldn’t take him. He has seen more of the world in his short time here than many could ever dream of with twice as many years. Mining was his true passion, so he felt as though he never worked a day in his life. He taught his children the valuable lesson of pursuing happiness instead of chasing the dollar. Robert was a friend to all and enemy of none. Everyone he met fell in love with his charismatic personality and mischievous antics. No prank was too grand for him to pull off, and no joke too small. He never missed an opportunity to make others laugh, sometimes at their own expense. He exuded carefree joy to everyone around him, especially endearing him to the gentle hearts of children. He wouldn’t hesitate to give the shirt off his back to someone in need. His infectious smile brightened even the darkest days, and it never ceased to amaze us how he always had the right words to say. Following in the footsteps of his father and siblings, Robert was an avid hunter. His keen eye allowed him to find even the smallest creature, such as a partridge, in a vast forest. He could spot things that others failed to see. It’s as if he was calling the creatures into his sights. Possessing an infallible sense of orientation, Robert could not get lost in the woods, or anywhere else for that matter. He grew up hunting partridge, rabbit, pheasant, and moose. He got his first deer in Nova Scotia. After moving to Arizona he started hunting dove, and loved skeet shooting, often winning turkeys at many skeet clubs. He embarked on his dream hunting trip to Colorado in 2011 with his brothers, mother, and wife. Although Robert had ALS for many years and was wheelchair-bound, he was determined to hunt his first elk. Equipped with a rifle adapted to his needs, he got the animal in his sights with the help of his wife. At the opportune moment, he fired the mouth-activated trigger pull, bringing down the elk with a perfect shot. The joy of such a feat brought tears to the eyes of his family. Robert truly did not let his disability hold him back from the things he loved most. Robert is preceded in death by his father Octave Prévost and brothers Laurent (Chantal) and Gerard Prévost. He is survived by his mother Marguerite Prévost of Bellecombe, Québec; wife Ginny and children Dylan, Emily, and Melodie Prévost of Wickenburg; brothers Richard (Chantale), Pierre (Ginnette), and Martin (Martine) Prévost; and sisters Therese (Real) and Francoise (Patrick) of Bellecombe, Québec; brothers-in-law Robert (Joan) and Michael (Cathy) McDonald, and sister-in-law Barbara Ann Bowerbank; and step-mother-in-law Carolyn McDonald. Memorial services will be held Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. in St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. A Celebration of Life will follow at Coffinger Park Ramada. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to contribute can donate to the Memorial Fund for Robert Prevost. The account is set up at Wells Fargo with account number 5746356111. Arrangements are being handled by David’s Desert Chapel.