Obituary of James Neal Davidson

February 24, 1942  - January 4, 2023 

James Davidson of Calgary, AB, passed away on Wednesday, January 4, 2023 at the age of 80 years.

Dad, Grandpa, Brother, Jimmy…

Proud “Brandon Boy” and son of Marianne and John Davidson. Husband of 56 years to our mom Penny (nee Smith) through five provinces, two baby daughters and all the grand-boys. Dad to Karee, Krista and Craig, generous, loving, hard-assed grandfather to Oliver, Simon, Charlie and Spencer, and big brother to Billy and Tommy, finally made his way from this world to the next. 

We’re sure his predeceased brother Ronnie has been waiting for a good dust up with dad, and Baron, Beau, and Chase were ready for a good ear scratch along the way. He made it to the place where the fish are always biting, and the geese are rising over the blind. Wherever he is, there is wood to be chopped, cold beer to be drank, horses to be tended to and lots of “almost” true stories to be told.

No one could accuse our dad of being an easy man. He was a product of his time. He worked, lived, played and loved hard. He could be stubborn, hard to please, and had higher expectations than anyone could ever meet, most especially for himself. 

In his day, he was one hell of a newspaper man, and if you worked for him, he very likely became your friend. He was a practitioner of the three-martini lunch and could sell anything to anyone. Dad had a loose affiliation with truth. Most of the time we forgave him that because he could tell a joke that would stop a room. 

He played in a band and taught us the power of good music. He made sure we appreciated James Taylor, Neil Young and Gene Dlouhy & The Swinging Canadians. He loved to tell people he once played back up base for Roy Orbison. He could play a song on the guitar right up until you were sure you recognized the tune, and then it would drift into some other melody. It didn’t matter though because everything eventually morphed into “A White Sports Coat” or “Sitting on a Dock in the Bay”.

He was fiercely protective of his girls. He always threatened to be waiting on the front porch for us to return home from a date, cleaning his gun. Although it never happened, it was best to remember it very well might. In his younger years, our dad was a natural athlete. He loved hockey, running, diving and swimming. Even in his 50’s he could cut a perfect jack-knife. He perfected and showed off his diving skills over many summers in our pool in North Bay. Flying was another passion of his. He got his private pilot license in his 30’s and loved taking his girls up for circuits around Hamilton airport. You finally have the “all clear” from the tower dad.

At our dad’s request, there will be no service, however, come fall, Krista and Karee will take an early morning walk through a prairie field with a hunting friend (and a little bit of our dad) to memorialize him in the way he always wanted. Roast goose dinner to follow. Condolences, memories, and photos can also be shared and viewed here.

If you would like to remember our dad, please consider a donation to addiction services or mental health supports in your community. 

In living memory of James Davidson, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.