James Gordon Baillie

It is with great sadness that we say good-bye to our father, husband, grandfather and great-grandfather James Gordon Baillie. Jim passed away peacefully at home on August 25th after several months of failing health. He is survived by his loving wife and life partner of almost 67 years, Patricia.

Dad was born in 1932 in the small north coastal town of Ocean Falls. He would often talk of his childhood years in the “Falls” and even composed stories of his boyhood adventures to share with family and friends. Moving to the big city of Vancouver in 1940 with his parents Annie and Gordon and brother Bruce, Dad joined the Canadian Air Force in 1953 before entering the world of finance and moving to Nanaimo in the mid-1950s. There he met the love of his life, Patricia Gordi, whom he married in 1957 and later the young couple, along with their first child daughter Lauri, spent a year living in Hawaii. Eventually the family, now with daughter Kim and son Steven, moved to North Vancouver and later to Victoria where Jim and Pat opened Portage Inlet House in the early 1980s. The popular Bed and Breakfast establishment, which they ran for 13 years, emphasized homemade baking and a home away from home. Jim was always the enthusiastic host to the hundreds of guest who stayed there, some of them remaining lifelong friends.

Dad always enjoyed a party, being with friends and spending lots of time with his family. Going out to the “property” was always Dad’s special go to place and it was there that he built a cabin with his own two hands. Later on, during their time in Sooke, Dad and Mom also spent three years “off the grid” as they expanded on the cabin to a full-sized house where many gatherings and family events took place.

Travel and a love of reading were also two of Dad’s passions, including photography, history and, when personal computers first hit the market, Dad was one of the early computer nerds.

Jim is predeceased by his parents, Annie and Gordon, as well as his brother Bruce. He is survived by wife Patricia (nee: Gordi) and children Lauri (Chris), Kim (Scott) and Steve (Nelva) as well as grandchildren Adam (Lynz), Shaun (Fiona), Will, Shelby (Andrew), Sarah and Katherine. Dad was also very proud and happy to welcome his first great grand-daughter Harbour last October.

Special thanks go to the staff of Home Care Assistance for all of their care and support during the last years. A Celebration of Life for Jim will be held later this year, date to be determined.