James Michael Paterson
March 15th 1937 – June 10th 2018
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of James “Jimmy” Paterson. Jimmy passed peacefully at 8am on Sunday June 10th 2018 under the loving care of the staff at the Chemainus Health Care Centre, after an extensive battle with metastatic prostate cancer.
Jimmy is predeceased by his mother Teresa (nee Wells), his Father James, and his daughter Jaqueline Anne. He is survived by his loving wife Margaret Elizabeth, their son Martin James, his grandchildren Tyler Jacob Mack and Denise Elizabeth, his sisters Aileen, Sylvia, and Christine, his nieces Tanya, Karen, Tina, and Jenny, and his nephews Carl and Michael.
Jimmy was born in Clacton-on-Sea, Es, England where he completed his education and apprenticed as a metallurgist and an upholsterer. He worked in the family greengrocer business until 1966 when he and Margaret made the decision to move their young family to Canada. Jimmy struck out alone in June 1966, originally bound for Calgary, however, the west coast was calling and he finally settled in the Vancouver area. Three months later on September 19th Margaret, Martin, and Jaqueline joined him in their beautiful new country.
The family struggled for the first year, but in 1967 Jimmy landed a job with Canadian Pacific Airlines, first as an upholsterer then as a mechanic. This allowed Jimmy and Margaret to build their first home on Gibbons Drive in Richmond. Just like his father the businessman started to emerge in Jimmy, and drawing on his training as an upholsterer he started his own sideline business doing contract upholstery in 1979. In just 2 short years, with the support of his family, Jimmy incorporated Jim Paterson (Mfg.) Ltd and began designing and creating quality upholstered furniture. The business was very successful for 10 years, with his son Martin at the helm as shop manager, his daughter Jaqueline managing the seamstresses, and his wife Margaret acting as office manager.
In the early 90’s Jimmy and Margaret, their children now grown with families of their own, decided it was time to reap the benefits of their hard work. They sold the house in Richmond and moved to Ladysmith on Vancouver Island. Never the one to sit still Jimmy used the extensive knowledge of produce that he gained by working in the family greengrocers in England and took on a part time position with the 49th Parallel grocery store in Ladysmith where he worked for 12 years. Jimmy finally retired at 72 years old in 2009. Still with a desire to stay healthy and active he took up the hobby of building and flying remote control airplanes. Jimmy met and became close friends with Mike Morgan and his group of RC airplane enthusiasts. They gather in a field at the top of Mount Sicker Rd. and Jimmy earned himself a reputation as a master airplane builder. One of Jimmy’s final requests is that some of his ashes be taken up in one of the airplanes he built and scattered over the flying field where he spent countless hours enjoying his passion.
Jimmy will always be remembered as a generous man, always willing to lend a hand wherever needed. His smile was infectious and he always made people around him feel comfortable.
Two celebrations of Jimmy’s life are being planned, one on Vancouver Island at the flying field at the top of Mount Sicker Rd. at 12 Noon on Sunday June 24. The other celebration will be on the mainland mid-July with details to be announced soon.
Donations may be made to:
Ride For Dad (Prostate Cancer)
Ride For Dad National Office 424-300 Earl Grey Drive, Ottawa, ON K2T 1C1
Tel: 1-613-623-0733
Web: secure2.convio.net/pcff/site/Donation2?1681.donation=form1&df_id=1681
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de James Michael PATERSON March 15 1937 June 10 2018 (age 81).source
Décès pour la Ville: Ladysmith, Province: Colombie britanique
