Obituary of Terry Jim BACON

February 12, 1940 - Moosejaw, Saskatchewan
January 24, 2021 – Calgary, Alberta

Terry Bacon, beloved husband of Dorothy Bacon (nee Aasen), passed away on Sunday, January 24, 2021 at the age of 80 years.

Growing up I was always amazed that when the family summer camping trip came up that it didn’t matter what campground in what province or state for that matter we were in. You would at some point in time be walking through the campground with Dad and suddenly hear someone yell out, “Hey Terry!” Thanks to the brotherhood of the oil patch, Dad seemed to know somebody everywhere. Forget about seven degrees of Kevin Bacon: Before that was a thing, it was seven degrees of Terry Bacon!

With a twinkle in his eyes and a half-smile half grin that conveyed friendship, Dad was always making friends everywhere he went. He was always ready to jump into a conversation and add his own story, a good laugh or two in his low, silky smooth voice. Everyone found themselves at ease with him and quickly became a new member of the ever growing, “I know Terry group.” 

With an easygoing nature and a huge desire to help out, he was always there for anyone and everyone. Whenever he heard “Going to the mall!” Dad, without hesitation, would offer to drive. He didn’t much like going in the mall. Usually he would stay in the van and read one of his books instead, but he was always willing to drive. Plus, this gave him an opportunity to play one of his favorite games… get the closest stall possible to the mall entrance. This usually meant driving around the mall parking lot, circling, waiting, or parking farther away and watching to jump into the first stall to open up closer. The van was never where you got out of it, but it was always closer to the entrance. I’ll save the many stories of riding experiences while Dad drove for another day. I will never figure out his math for “I only go 8 to 10 mph over the speed limit”... in my head, the numbers just never matched up. 

This nature to help led him to volunteer his time to many different events: the Calgary Olympics (so many stories), Grey Cup community (chance to sneak a horse into a hotel lobby), Calgary Stampede (Chuckwagon pancake breakfasts) and the Police & Firefighter Games. 

An avid reader, Louis L’Amour, Zane Grey and the author who writes the Executioner will all have to downsize their retirement plans from lost book sales. Dad was also into woodworking with all his kids having a lovingly crafted rocking horse and some small animal cutouts in their homes. 

And of course the big one, golf. Dad loved his golf! As with his driving speed Dad used some sort of math beyond me when counting my strokes. “What did you get on that hole son?” “A nine,” I would reply. Dad would concentrate for a moment. His eyes would twinkle and he would state, “No, I’m pretty sure you got six.” He also taught me the proper technique for the foot wedge when my many fairway shots missed the fairway and ended up in the rough. For Dad, it was all about the moment: the sun, green fairways, trees and the good natured camaraderie and a chance to share a story or two. Dad’s love of golf got Mom to dabble in it, and Donna, Mitch and myself to take up the game as well. 

Lastly, first thing Sunday was for Dad to grab the new TV guide for the upcoming week and do… nobody is sure what his code meant that he wrote down across the days and shows for the upcoming week. NASA, the FBI and the CIA all figure it will take years to crack the code.

An amazing grandfather, or Papa as he was called, he never missed an opportunity to watch: hockey games, lacrosse games (even though I’m not sure he knew all of the rules), plays, dance recitals (don’t believe he could tell a pirouette from a plie), or Taekwondo. He was always supportive with encouraging words “you were great, nice game, way to go.” And doesn’t everyone, kids and grandkids included, remember being on the receiving end of a whisker rash or two at some point in time?

I think the measure of a life well lived is in how many friends you have made, how many people feel you have enriched or touched their lives, how much people looked up to and respected you, and thought you were a decent, honest man worth calling a friend. Seven degrees of Terry Bacon! If I can even get to 3.5 degrees of Terry Bacon, I’m well on my way to following in the amazing footsteps of a fantastic husband to Dorothy, father to Jim (Rhonda), Mitch (Carrie), Sherree, and Donna (Kevan); and Papa to Kayla, Brooklyn, Rebecca, Dawson, Nicholas, and Michael . He will live on forever in our hearts and loving memories of those that got to know him, shared a story or two, or called him “friend.”

As per Terry’s wishes no services will be held. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Terry’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, it is the family's wish for memorial tributes to be made directly   to The Alzheimer Society of Calgary, 800, 7015 Macleod Trail S.W., Calgary, AB  T2H 2K6, Telephone: (403) 290-0110, www.alzheimercalgary.com, or to the charity of the donor’s choice.

In living memory of Terry Bacon, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot, 82 CROWFOOT CIRCLE NW, CALGARY, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.