Gil Carreiro Chambray of Natoma passed away on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, at the age of 79.
He was born on Oct. 14, 1940 in the city of Arrifes, St. Miguel, Acores, Portugal. He was the fifth child born to Maria Moniz and Antonio Carriero.
Gil moved from the Acores to Bermuda in 1949. He attended school for a short time only as most Portuguese boys were sent to work at a very young age.
He worked at a rock quarry cutting slate stone from the ages of 11 – 17. He then apprenticed at the Bermuda Electric Light Company and became a diesel mechanic where he worked there until he moved his family to Terrace, British Columbia, Canada in October 1975. There he worked as an engineer at Alcan Aluminum Factory from 1975 to 1987.
His family then decided to relocate the family back to Bermuda in November 1987. He worked as chief pump engineer at the Corporation for the City of Hamilton until his retirement in 2010.
Gil and Isaura then immigrated to Natoma, Kan., to join their family in the United States in June 2012.
Gil was a very hard-working man who never stopped even after retirement. Whether mowing his lawns, painting houses or just helping Isaura with house chores, he only knew one way to be.
He also loved to travel and experience new places and things with his family. His greatest past-time though was talking and watching football (soccer). Gil religiously followed his beloved football team, Benfica. The world would stop when Benfica played! He also loved Portugal’s National football team, and enjoyed following the Vancouver Canucks ice hockey team and his latest love, the Kansas City Chiefs.
But by far his greatest love was his family. He married the love of his life Isaura Maria De Melo Vieira in Bermuda on June 28, 1962.
To this union was born three children, with only their son David surviving. The greatest joys of his life were his grandchildren, Jacob and Hannah, who he would do anything for. He was so very proud of all of their accomplishments and achievements but always spoke of how proud he was that they were good, kind, beautiful young people.
Gil was a devote Catholic Christian. He and his wife attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Plainville and would often watch the Portuguese Mass on the Portuguese RTP television station - that was a constant in their house.
Gil is survived by his wife of 57 years, Isaura, his son David and wife Andrea, grandchildren Jacob and Hannah, all of Natoma. His brother Victor Chambray of Vancouver, B.C., Canada, brother-in-law Herculano and wife Lina Vieira, and sister-in-law Elizabeth Vieira all of Bermuda, plus many nieces, nephews, secondary relatives, and friends throughout the U.S., Canada, Bermuda, and Acores, Portugal.
He was proceeded in death by an infant daughter, Linda Marie, and a still born son, his mother and father, his brothers, Manuel, Eduino, Antonio, and sister Sabina. Brother-in-laws Hubert Vieira, Jose Lima, Camilo DeMedeiros. Sister-in-laws, Eduarda Lima and Alda Carreiro.
A celebration of the funeral mass for Gil's life will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Plainville.
Burial will follow at the Natoma City Cemetery in Natoma.
Memorials can be given to the Natoma High School Athletics Fund and sent in care of Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary Russell, Kansas location.
Pohlman-Varner Peeler Mortuary of Russell and Natoma is in charge of the funeral mass.