Obituary of Gordon Kersey Agar

Reverend Gordon Agar, faithful husband of Isabelle of Calgary, passed away at the Carewest Signal Pointe Home on Monday, May 24, 2004 at the age of 90 years. Gordon was born and raised on his family’s farm in Nashville, ON. He received a B.A. degree from the University of Toronto in 1938 then studied Theology at Knox College and was ordained as a Presbyterian Minister in 1941. As a Student Minister, Gordon served in a number of mission churches in remote communities including Webbwood and Massey, ON, Hunter’s Point, QC, Cranberry Portage, MN, and Kinistino, SK, where he met and fell in love with Isabelle. As an Ordained Minster, he served in Port Alberni, BC and Harriston, ON before taking his young family to central India, where he served as a Missionary from 1947 to 1953. After returning to Canada, he ministered to congregations in Tisdale, SK, King City, ON, Thamesville, ON, and Red Deer, AB. From 1974 until his retirement in 1985, he served as a Chaplain in the hospitals of metropolitan Toronto. Throughout his career as a Presbyterian Minister, Missionary and Chaplain, he excelled at engaging those most in need of spiritual support. He provided caring comfort to numerous sick and lonely people. Gordon loved gardening and nurturing house plants; enjoyed ice skating and swimming; was an avid amateur photographer; had keen interests in history, politics, literature, and linguistics (Hindi, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, German, and French); and was thankful and proud to be a Canadian citizen. Gordon’s legacy of generosity and community service lives on in his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Gordon is survived by his wife Isabelle (nee Gillanders); daughter Ruth (husband Doug Smith); sons, John (wife Narda Agar) and James (wife Shona Ward); ten grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and sisters, Mary Porter, Anne Knowlton and Lenore Livingston. He was predeceased by his daughter, Mary (husband Mike O’Connor) on April 1, 2004. He was also predeceased by his sister Alice Beedham and his brother Gilbert Agar. Funeral Services will be held at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church (703 Heritage Drive S.W.) on Friday, June 4, 2004 at 1:00 P.M. To forward condolences go to www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Calgary Health Trust – Carewest: Signal Point, 10101 Southport Road SW, Calgary, AB T2W 3N2 Telephone: (403) 943 – 0615, www.calgaryhealthtrust.org. Special thanks to the management and staff of Carewest Signal Pointe who helped Gordon live with dignity, joy and love through the last four years of his life. In living memory of Gordon Agar, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W., CALGARY, TELEPHONE: (403) 243-8200.