Rhys Emrys Smallwood passed away peacefully, leaving behind a deeply loved family, lifelong friends, and a life for which he was immensely grateful.
Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Rhys was the son of Emrys and Yvonne Smallwood (née Wilson). Tragically, Rhys lost his father in a car accident in 1960. In 1968, his mother moved Rhys and his two older sisters, Laura and Lynn, to Victoria, BC, establishing a family home in Oak Bay.
Rhys graduated from Oak Bay High in 1976 and earned a BA in Economics from the University of British Columbia in 1980. In his twenties, he spent several summers guiding whitewater rafting trips in BC and Northern California. A summer position in IT during his university years sparked a 40-year career in technology and IT project management. Working across both the public and private sectors, his career took him to Vancouver, London, England, and Houston, Texas before he returned to Victoria in 1995. He retired in 2018.
The true heart of Rhys’s life was his family. In 1998, he married Stacie Louttit, originally from Great Falls, Montana, and together they welcomed their son, Dylan, in 2000. Rhys was deeply involved in Dylan’s youth sports and loved family walks with their dogs—first their Golden Retriever, Bailey, and later their Wheaten Terrier, Zeus.
Known for his calm presence, grounded perspective, and a touch of mischief, Rhys had a lifelong love for the outdoors, including biking, cross-country skiing, and hiking. In recent years, he and Stacie enjoyed wintering in Arizona while keeping Victoria as home base.
Rhys will be deeply missed by his wife, Stacie; son, Dylan; mother, Yvonne; sister Laura Smallwood and her partner, Jackie Anderson; sister Lynn Smallwood; nephew Brys Stafford; nephew Evan Stafford, his wife, Kassandra, and their children; and three grandnieces on Stacie’s side, all of whom he held dear. He also leaves behind a cherished circle of friends.
A Celebration of Rhys’ Life will be held in the Sequoia Centre at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC, on Saturday, October 10th, 2026, at 10:00am.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Rhys’s memory to the BC Cancer Foundation in support of lymphoma research.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
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