Obituary of MACKIE Q.C.

October 21, 1927 – December 27, 2011 It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of James A. N. Mackie. He quietly passed away mid-morning, December 27, 2011 at the Beverley Midnapore Long-Term Care Residence in Calgary at the age of 84 years. Jim was the beloved and cherished husband of 61 years to Dora Helen Mackie (nee Stock), a devoted and loving father to daughters Becky (Kerry) and Anne (Claudio) and sons Jamie (Brenda) and David (Sandra), fourteen grandchildren: Nick (Alissa), Matthew (Johanna), Neil (Pam), Greg, Megan, Andrew (Riva), Jeffrey (Vanessa), Emily (Patrick), David, Peter, Michael, Robert, Sarah, and Leah and eight great-grandchildren: Dora, Peter, Henry, Owen, Alice, Athena, Arabella and Isis. He is also survived by his sister Moyra (Joe) Ferguson and Norman (Valerie) Mackie. Jim is predeceased by his father Norman, his mother Rosanna, his stepmother Lilias, his brother Stuart and his sister Yvonne. Jim was born in Calgary, Alberta. He was a keen athlete and outdoorsman. Throughout his life he enjoyed a wide variety of sports including running, badminton, golf, tennis and outdoor activities including hiking, skiing (both downhill and cross-country) as well as horseback riding and camping. He was very involved with the Glencoe Club and the Glencoe Golf and Country Club. He served as President of the Glencoe Club and was the Glencoe Golf and Country Club’s first President and was instrumental in its establishment and early success as a golf club that included a strong focus on the development of junior golfers. He attended the University of Alberta where he graduated in both Commerce and Law. He met his beautiful wife Helen while working in the summer at the Banff Springs Hotel as a bell-hop and she as a waitress. Jim and Helen loved the mountains around Banff, where they did many hikes, including a hike to Mt. Assiniboine for their honeymoon. While working in Banff they spent many evenings with the other students around bon-fires by the Spray River where they sang songs led by Roy Glover while Jim played his ukelele. They developed many lifelong friendships at this time. After graduating with his law degree, Jim moved his growing family, which now included his daughter Becky to Calgary where he started his law practice at the firm of Mahaffey Howard. After several iterations it became Howard Mackie which eventually became the Calgary branch of the national law firm Borden Ladner Gervais. He practiced law for forty years, retiring at the age of 65. During this time, one of the honors he received was his Q.C. Dancing was of special pleasure to Jim and Helen. In his later years they focused on Scottish Country Dancing. Throughout their lives together, Jim and Helen travelled extensively. They did many wilderness adventures together over the years, including hiking the Chilcoot Trail, and descents of the Tateshini, Nahani, Colorado and Mackenzie Rivers. Jim was a big fan of history, particularly Scottish, and a keen genealogist. He spent many hours during his retirement on his iMac researching the Mackie family history. During this time they traveled to Scotland several times to connect specific family links. He was a longstanding member of the Calgary Burns Club and loved attending the meetings, especially the annual Burns Supper, dressed in full Highland regalia. His love of history included serving as President of the Historical Society of Alberta and working ceaselessly to preserve the architecture of Calgary, including the renovation and preservation of the family owned Lancaster Building and many other important landmarks on Stephen Avenue. He loved the arts and enthusiastically supported Helen’s career as an artist. Jim was a strong believer in higher education and very supportive of the University of Calgary, where he served on the Board of Governors. He particularly enjoyed their country cabin at the Bar KC in Bragg Creek, which they generously shared with their children, grandchildren and many friends. Here they loved the woods where they rode their horses, took long walks, and cross-country skied. Jim had a good sense of humor and he loved to laugh. He was very gentle and kind. His love for Helen was profound. He will always be remembered in our hearts and memories. The family would like to extend special thanks and appreciation to all the staff at the Beverly Care home in Midnapore, particularly Lucy, Priscilla, Eddie, Dr. Groenberg and many others, all earth angels. A Funeral Service will be held at Christ Church Elbow Park (3602 – 8th Street S.W.) on Friday December 30, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends desire, in lieu of flowers, tributes in Jim’s name can be made to the Southern Alberta Pioneers and Their Descendants 3625 – 4th Street S.W., Calgary, AB T2S 1Y3 (403) 243-3580 or The Alzheimer Society of Calgary, Suite 201, 222 – 58th Avenue S.W., Calgary, AB T2H 2S3, (403)290-0110, www.alzheimercalgary.com. In living memory of James Mackie, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W. Telephone: (403)243-8200