Obituary of James Nelson Love

Born in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, September 30, 1922, the first child to Ivan and Nixie, died in Calgary, May 17, 2005. Jim Love was a child of the prairies, raised in Regina where he attended Lakeview School, delivered the Regina Leader-Post, and later attended Central Collegiate where in 1938 he met his first and only girlfriend, Bee Avison. He volunteered for the Commonwealth Air Training Program, where he trained as a navigator, subsequently joined Britain’s Royal Air Force and was shipped overseas in August of 1942. His outstanding career as a navigator on a Lancaster Bomber ‘F’ for Freddie earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross. He married Bee on December 7, 1944 in her parent’s house on Angus Crescent in Regina. Following his discharge, Jim and Bee moved to Saskatoon where he attended the University of Saskatchewan, graduating in 1948 with a Bachelor of Commerce, and immediately joined Imperial Oil. For the next 25 years, Jim assumed increasingly more important positions within Imperial Oil, eventually leaving the company in 1974 as Western Canada President of Marketing. He received his Advanced Business Management Degree from Kings College in 1966. It was during these years at Imperial that there were many moves back and forth across the country, giving their 5 children a unique perspective on Canada. In 1980 Jim joined Mohawk Oil as Vice President where he remained for 8 years, retiring in 1988. Throughout his career in the business world, there was always time for Jim and Bee to see the world which they did extensively, with long holidays in Mexico, Portugal, Spain, Palm Springs, but always coming home to Calgary. No matter where they travelled, there was always a glass of scotch, a piece of rare sirloin or a glass of fine wine close by, in keeping with his personal motto ‘It costs very little more, to go first class’. An avid golfer, he was a longtime member of the Willow Park Golf Club as well as many other social and service clubs. Bee passed away in 1988 which left a tremendous void, but he filled it as best he could with friends, family, golf, travel, and his two small pals, Hamish and Piper, terriers that became more than just pets – they were people to him. Jim Love fought for his country, worked hard for his family, brought integrity to his business career, and taught us all, no matter what, to do the right thing. He is survived by his sister Nancy (Don) of Regina, brother Don (Myrna) of Winnipeg, Mike (Jean) of Denver, and children daughter Jackie (Tom) of Tsawwassen, BC., Larry (Linda) of Edmonton, Tom of Calgary, Rod (Charlene) of Calgary and Maureen (Mike) of Calgary, as well as many grandchildren and relatives of the extended Love family. In lieu of flowers donations may be made directly to the Calgary Humane Society (S.P.C.A.), 1323 – 36 Avenue N.E., Calgary, AB T2E 6T6 Telephone: (403) 250-7722 ext. 309. A Gathering will be held for family and friends at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S, Fish Creek Chapel (14441 Bannister Road S.E.) on Friday May 20 at 2:30 p.m. In living memory of James Love, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Fish Creek Chapel, 14441 BANNISTER ROAD S.E. Telephone: (403) 256-9575.