James (Jim) Ralph Gibson

Jim entered the world on August 13, 1922. He was the youngest of ten children, (all of whom were born at home in the Township of Chapple, Ontario), of William and Maria Gibson.

He was educated in a one-room school house in the district. Following his schooling, Jim ventured forth and became a jack-of-all-trades. Guiding on Lake of the Woods made him realize that he actually disliked fishing. He found himself more at home in logging camps than he did on the water. He became a company scaler for MANDO at Camp 109. When he left there, he was employed briefly at CAC Steep Rock. Following that he went to CAC Caland and stayed until the job was completed. Carpentry was always a part of Jim‘s life.

In the 1950s, he was united in marriage with Eileen Kehl and became a stepfather to her children Harleen, Dawn and Randy. The family moved from Emo, Ontario to Atikokan. Three children, (Dale, Lynn and Tracy), were born to the couple.

In the late 50s, Jim became a devoted member of the Pentecostal church and was instrumental in the building of the Full Gospel Assembly on Maple Crescent. He dedicated his life to serving the Lord.

The sixties proved to be an extremely busy period of Jim’s life. In addition to operating a filling station (Gibson’s White Rose Service), he worked as a security guard at Caland Ore, and spent weekends cutting wood with a Swede saw. He left those endeavours behind in order to run a horse logging operation close to Atikokan.

In the seventies, Jim switched from horses to more modern logging methods and worked primarily around the Flanders area, before selling the business. He later went to work for the Great Lakes Paper Company.

During the 1980s, Jim discovered a new opportunity in dismantling buildings. It not only proved to be financially profitable, but he was able to recycle the lumber. A cabin and garage at Turtle Lake, a house and garage on Mercury Ave. and a houseboat were all constructed from the salvaged material. It was also during this time that Jim and Eileen decided to part company.

In the nineties, at the tender age of 74, Jim’s path took a completely unexpected and delightful turn when he became acquainted with Arlie Ferris of Finland. The two of them decided to continue their life’s journey together and were married at the Off Lake Covenant Church on March 2, 1996. Arlie’s children; Sonny Ferris (Margaret), Ruth Ann Savage (Allan), Jane Graham (Tom) and Linda Anderson (Jim) helped to create a lovely and memorable wedding for the couple.

The Gibsons enjoyed several happy years together in Atikokan. Sadly, Jim lost his beloved Arlie when she passed away on August 5, 2000 and each step of his journey alone became ever harder to bear.

In 2006 the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, exacerbated by grief, made it necessary for Jim to take the next step into continuing care before making his final move into the Extended Care Unit of the Atikokan General Hospital.

The sudden loss of his daughter Lynn, in 2008, came as another devastating blow and increasingly he longed for his journey to end.

On January 7, 2011 Jim approached his eternal destination with loving family and friends by his side. His great-grandchildren sang, prayed and read aloud, helping to make Jim’s last and greatest transition a peaceful and beautiful one.

Jim was predeceased by: parents William and Maria, brothers Norman, Harold and Wilfred, sisters Agnes Meyers, Mina Meyers, Beatrice Sullivan, Ethel Carruthers, Margaret Gibson, nephews Gordon Meyers, Bill Gibson, great-nephew Dwayne Meyers, daughter Lynn Enge and wife Arlie Gibson. He is survived by: sister Maria Gibson, daughters Harleen Hogan (Lorne), Dawn Marson (Victor), Tracy Gibson (Rick Socholotuk), sons Randy Kehl (Roberta) and Dale Gibson (Cathy), son-in-law Ed Enge (Heather), former son-in-law Bryon MacDonald (Marj), former wife Eileen Gibson, as well as a multitude of nieces, nephews, grand and great-grandchildren.

Although we are saddened by our loss, we celebrate the fact that Jim suffers no longer. Those who would like to join in our celebration are invited to attend the memorial service at 1 pm on Thursday, January 20, 2011 at the Full Gospel Assembly Church, in Atikokan with Reverend Clarence Mitchell officiating.

The honourary pallbearers will be Sonny Ferris, Dennis Schram, Bill Roberts and Ed Enge.

Jim will undoubtedly be remembered by many for his sense of humour and random acts of kindness.

Persons wishing to, may make donations in care of Green Funeral Home, Box 427, Fort Frances, Ontario P9A 3M8 to the Extended Care Unit of the Atikokan General Hospital where the residents are treated with the utmost dignity and respect.

On-line condolences may be made in care of www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com