Neil C. Barber

Neil Carlisle Barber, 84, of Creston British Columbia passed away peacefully, embraced by his family, on November 2, 2018.

Born in Manchester, England, Neil attended Cambridge University and qualified as a medical doctor in 1959. He and his young family then spent three years in northern Kenya where he served tirelessly as the only doctor for a remote area. After also working as a doctor in Swansea, Wales for two years, Neil and his family immigrated to Quesnel, British Columbia in 1965. Neil embraced the Cariboo and it embraced him. He devoted the remainder of his medical career to this region, specializing as an Internist and becoming a founding member of the International College of Hospice/Palliative Care in 1995 – where he was instrumental in bringing a multi-bed hospice unit to Quesnel. He is fondly remembered by patients and medical staff alike as a gentle, intelligent and devoted doctor who treated everyone with compassion, grace and strength.

Neil retired in 2002 and in 2008 he and his wife Eva moved to Creston, BC where he continued his commitment to palliative care by serving on the local Hospice Society Board and successfully bringing two hospice rooms to the Creston Valley Hospital. 

Neil is survived by his daughter Theresa (David) Metzger, son Marcus (Janice) Barber and son James (Ila) Barber. He is also survived by his sisters Julie (Richard) Williams and Linda Allatini (Anthony) Wilson and his grandsons Wes (Alaina), Daniel, Michael, William and Jon. Neil joins his beloved wife of 60 years, Eva, who passed away in 2017.

A special thank you to the nurses and doctors at the Creston Valley Hospital, and to Father Sylvester Obi Ibekwe of the Holy Cross Catholic Church, for their loving care and support during his final days.

Funeral services for Neil will be held at the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Creston, BC on Friday, November 23 at 10:30 am (www.gfoliverfuneralchapel.com/notices/Neil-Barber). Neil will be laid to rest beside his wife Eva at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Creston BC.

Memorial donations may be made to the Eva and Neil Barber Memorial Fund at the Creston-Kootenay Foundation, Box 701, Creston, BC V0B 1G0 (proceeds to benefit the Creston Valley Hospital Palliative Care rooms) or to the Holy Cross Catholic Church at Box 299, Creston BC V0B 1G0.

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