JAMES R. GIBSON

The family of James R. Gibson would like to announce that Jim has completed his journey here on Earth.
Jim entered the world on Aug. 13, 1922. He was the youngest of 10 children of William and Maria Gibson (all of whom were born at home in the Township of Chapple, Ont.)
He was educated in a one-room school house in the district. Following his schooling, Jim ventured forth and became a jack-of-all-trades.
Guiding on Lake of the Woods made him realize that he actually disliked fishing. He found himself more at home in logging camps than he did on the water.
He became a company scaler for Mando at Camp 109. When he left there, he was employed briefly at CAC Steep Rock. Following that, he went to CAC Caland and stayed until the job was completed.
Carpentry was always a part of Jim‘s life.
In the 1950s, he was united in marriage with Eileen Kehl and became a stepfather to her children, Harleen, Dawn, and Randy. The family moved from Emo, Ont. to Atikokan, Ont.
Three children, Dale, Lynn, and Tracy, were born to the couple.
In the late 1950s, Jim became a devoted member of the Pentecostal church and was instrumental in the building of the Full Gospel Assembly on Maple Crescent. He dedicated his life to serving the Lord.
The ’60s proved to be an extremely busy period of Jim’s life. In addition to operating a filling station (Gibson’s White Rose Service), he worked as a security guard at Caland Ore and spent weekends cutting wood with a Swede saw.
He left those endeavours behind in order to run a horse logging operation close to Atikokan.
In the ’70s, Jim switched from horses to more modern logging methods and worked primarily around the Flanders area before selling the business. He later went to work for the Great Lakes Paper Company.
During the 1980s, Jim discovered a new opportunity in dismantling buildings. It not only proved to be financially profitable, but he was able to recycle the lumber. A cabin and garage at Turtle Lake, a house and garage on Mercury Avenue, and a houseboat all were constructed from the salvaged material.
It also was during this time that Jim and Eileen decided to part company.
In the ’90s, at the tender age of 74, Jim’s path took a completely unexpected and delightful turn when he became acquainted with Arlie Ferris of Finland, Ont. The two of them decided to continue their life’s journey together and were married at the Off Lake Covenant Church on March 2, 1996.
Arlie’s children, Sonny Ferris (Margaret), Ruth Ann Savage (Allan), Jane Graham (Tom), and Linda Anderson (Jim), helped to create a lovely and memorable wedding for the couple.
The Gibsons enjoyed several happy years together in Atikokan. Sadly, Jim lost his beloved Arlie when she passed away on Aug. 5, 2000 and each step of his journey alone became ever harder to bear.
In 2006, the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, exacerbated by grief, made it necessary for Jim to take the next step into continuing care before making his final move into the Extended Care Unit of the Atikokan General Hospital.
The sudden loss of his daughter, Lynn, in 2008 came as another devastating blow and increasingly he longed for his journey to end.
On Jan. 7, 2011, Jim approached his eternal destination with loving family and friends by his side. His great-grandchildren sang, prayed, and read aloud, helping to make Jim’s last and greatest transition a peaceful and beautiful one.
Jim also was predeceased by his parents, William and Maria; brothers, Norman, Harold, and Wilfred; sisters, Agnes Meyers, Mina Meyers, Beatrice Sullivan, Ethel Carruthers, and Margaret Gibson; nephews, Gordon Meyers and Bill Gibson; great-nephew, Dwayne Meyers; daughter, Lynn Enge; and wife, Arlie Gibson.
He is survived by his sister, Maria Gibson; daughters, Harleen Hogan (Lorne), Dawn Marson (Victor), and Tracy Gibson (Rick Socholotuk); sons, Randy Kehl (Roberta) and Dale Gibson (Cathy); son-in-law, Ed Enge (Heather); former son-in-law, Bryon MacDonald (Marj); former wife, Eileen Gibson; as well as a multitude of nieces, nephews, and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Although we are saddened by our loss, we celebrate the fact that Jim suffers no longer.
Those who would like to join in our celebration are invited to attend the memorial service Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011 at 1 p.m. at the Full Gospel Assembly Church in Atikokan, with Pastors Mikael Mantyla and Clarence Mitchell officiating.
The honourary pallbearers will be Sonny Ferris, Dennis Schram, Bill Roberts, and Ed Enge.
Jim undoubtedly will be remembered by many for his sense of humour and random acts of kindness.
Persons wishing to may make donations, c/o Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8, to the Extended Care Unit of the Atikokan General Hospital.
Online condolences may be made offered at www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com