Obituary of Jim Blain

Dad left us on Friday, February 9, 2007 to be with his beautiful doll, Esther. Dad was born, the oldest of five boys, in Tarbrax, Scotland July 19, 1920 and came to Canada in 1924. They settled in Drumheller and then moved to Calgary in 1930. He left school in 1938 to work and help support his family. He applied for the Navy this same year and joined in 1939. Dad served on the HMCS Naden, HMCS Sackville and the HMCS Drumheller as leading telegrapher. While still in the navy, at the end of the war in Toronto in 1945, he met his “beautiful doll” Esther and they were married in Toronto on November 14, 1945. Mom and Dad settled in Calgary where dad tried to get employed by Calgary Transit as a streetcar driver but after just three days on the job was let go due to being colorblind. He also tried out for the Calgary Stampeders in 1945 but due to a hip condition was unable to make the team. He then worked for Allied Chemicals, Canada Post, Alberta Livestock Co-op, Parslow & Denoon, Calgary School Board and ending with Lucern Foods. Dad also worked for many years as a part time employee for Calgary Exhibition & Stampede parking cars. Dad had a great love for the outdoors and enjoyed camping, day trips to Canmore, holidays in BC, fishing, tying flies, golf, gardening, his rose bushes, woodwork, general handyman and watching is granddaughters grow and spending time with them. Although dad loved to sing and play the squeezebox, this was usually done by himself behind closed doors. Dad played the harmonica and was a fabulous whistler. Dad is survived by his loving daughter Sandra; his son Dale and granddaughters Megan, Victoria and Dianna. He is also survived by his brother Bill (Sandra) Blain as well as numerous nieces, great nieces, nephews and great nephews. He was predeceased by Esther, his loving wife of sixty-one years in December, 2006 and his brothers, David, Bob and Hank. Although dad seemed gruff on the outside, inside was a very loving, caring, emotional man. He will be remembered for his sparkling blue eyes, his sarcastic dry sense of humour and his ability to say it as it was! “Buenas Noches dad, breath easy and rest in peace.” Those interested in attending the Memorial Service on Friday, February 16, 2007, please contact Sandra at 229-0801 or 861-5464 or Dale at 276-3713 or 804-1692. Thank you to all the staff, especially in Flanders, at the Colonel Belcher. In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Alberta Lung Association, P.O. Box 4500, Station South, Edmonton, AB T6E 6K2 Telephone: 1 (888) 566 – 5864. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In living memory of Jim Blain, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH Telephone: (403) 276-2296.