James Robert Dales

He was the beloved husband of Jeannie Dales. Loving father of Dennis Dales and Jennifer Dales (Sean McEwen). Treasured grandfather of Liam McEwen. He is remembered by his siblings, many nieces and nephews, as well as by his brother and sisters-in-law.

He was the son of the late David Dales and Rita Edmunds.

Jim grew up in a little house in Clinton, Ontario with his eight sisters. As a boy, he had a paper route, loved to go fishing as well as play conkers, a game involving cracking chestnuts, which he taught his own children. He joined the army when he was 16 years old and at 19 years of age, he was stationed at the Valcartier, Quebec military base. He met his true love, Jeannie McKeown, at a local dance in the village of Valcartier.

After two years of courting, which included more dances and parties, as well as a couple of Christmas Eve réveillons after midnight mass, Jim and Jeannie were married at the local Catholic church.

Soon after, Jim was stationed in west Germany, which allowed the newly-weds to do some travelling through France and Germany for a couple of years. Their son Dennis was born there in 1967. They returned home to Canada and Jennifer was born in 1969.

After 11 years, Jim left the army and became a sporting goods salesman. Jim was a social, exuberant person who loved cross-country skiing and other sports, making him perfect for his profession.

He was also adventurous and always seemed to be making things happen around him. After running several small companies, including Polar Magic, a company that made beautiful fleece coats, he “retired” to his last company, Seaway Valley Soups.

Behind the scenes, Jeannie invented all the recipes, and the soups were soon flying off the shelves. Jim sold them at farmer’s markets, where customers would sometimes buy 10 soups at a time. Once the pandemic hit, Jim retired for real and spent the last years of his life at home with his favourite person, Jeannie.

Jim was a kind-hearted gentleman, who made countless friends everywhere he travelled, as well as in Cornwall, Ontario where he and Jeannie lived for more than 25 years.

In keeping with Jim’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Funeral Home on Saturday July 19th, from 10 a.m to 12 p.m, followed by Inurnment at St. Lawrence Valley Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at The Best Western - the Hops and Barley Pub starting at 1 p.m.

Arrangements under the care and direction of LAHAIE AND SULLIVAN WEST BRANCH, 20 SEVENTH STREET WEST, CORNWALL, ON.