THOMSON, James McClymont Drynan
WHAT A GREAT LIFE
James (Jim) in his 93rd year passed away quietly in his sleep February 5, 2015 in the Veterans Wing of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto. Beloved husband of Luella, loving father of Emily (Paul) Smith and granddaughter Gillian of Kimberley, British Columbia and Alison (Doug Cotton) of Toronto. Lovingly remembered by Luella's children, Coleen (Paul) McLachlan, and Carolyn Ross.
Born in Talara, Peru in 1922 to William and Phyllis Thomson of Girvan, Scotland his family moved to North Toronto in 1927. He enlisted in the 48th Highlanders in 1940, trained in England and was wounded while taking part in the British 8th Army invasion of Sicily and Italy in 1943. Following recuperation in Algiers and England Jim returned to Canada in 1944. During his career as an advertising executive he spent many years with Weekend Magazine and the Globe and Mail.
Actively involved in his Toronto community Jim was an enthusiastic fund raiser for the United Way, YMCA, and Heart and Stroke among others. He enjoyed his time as a Big Brother and reading on air for the CNIB.
A fitness enthusiast, for years he frequented the Toronto YMCA with his friends ‘The Bunker Boys’. In 2000, at the age of 78, he participated in the Trans Canada Trail Relay 2000 - his daughter and granddaughter, then aged 6, also participated proudly making it a three generational run.
An outdoorsman, Jim loved fly fishing, canoeing and in his early years hunting in northern and western Canada. He took great joy in his Labrador retrievers and for many years lovingly trained them for field trials, taking particular pride in his International Champion Stormy.
In retirement he and Luella moved to Mono where he continued to enjoy his life-long love of reading and the outdoors, particularly the camaraderie of his fly fishing buddies at the Caledon Mountain Trout Club and his friends in the Mulmur Hills Literary Society.
In Jim’s memory please read a good book, recite a poem, or take your Labrador for a walk in the sunshine. Tight Lines.
Family will receive friends at the Dods & McNair Funeral Home & Chapel, 21 First St., Orangeville on Tuesday, February 10th, 2015 from 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. followed by the
Memorial Service in the Chapel at 2:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson Society of Canada.
A tree will be planted in memory of Jim in the Dods & McNair Memorial Forest at the Island Lake Conservation Area, Orangeville. A dedication service will be held on Sunday, September 13, 2015 at 2:30 p.m.
(Condolences may be offered to the family at www.dodsandmcnair.com)