Jim’s Obituary
James Fredrick Pearson, long time resident of Clear Hills (AB), passed away in Manning (AB), on August 24, 2020 at the age of 84 years.
Jim was born on August 6, 1936 in the farm house in Clear Hills. He was the 8th child of Thomas & Victoria Pearson. Jim attended Hazel School in Clear Hills.
A dedicated trapper most of his life; Jim and his brother started a small trap line west of the farm when he was about 10 years old with a few squirrel and weasel sets. Their winter’s work brought them about 35 squirrels and 10 weasels; squirrels were worth about 35 cents and seemed like a lot of money to them. Jim & John took over their brothers line in their teenage years and in their late teens, took over their Dad’s trap line; Wagon Creek & north to the base line. They started out checking their lines with a dog team and toboggan, in later years he got modern and used a snowmobile. Later, he teamed up with Bobby Dodds and they trapped out of Sheep Camp, Cody Cabin and Chinchaga. After Bobby passed, Jim teamed up with Kevin Klein and added Ross Creek to his trapping area. Jim’s last trapping expedition came to an end when he came home for Christmas in 2015. His health wouldn’t allow him to return to the trap line but he always kept it in his heart and visited the cabins whenever he had a chance.
Jim cowboyed most summers. In his younger years, Jim and his friend, Garney Helle, pursued and caught wild horses. Some they kept, others were sold for bucking stock. The great bucking horse, Casey Jones, who was sold to Loretta Lynn in Tennessee, was captured by Jim and Garney.
After a short interlude of trying city life on the B.C. coast and Calgary, where he worked many different jobs out of necessity, he moved to Manitoba where he worked on the Bark Ranch in the early 1970’s. His love of his roots however, brought him back to Clear Hills, where he cowboyed in the summer and trapped most winters. Jim managed and worked the Tangent Community Pasture for many years and then worked at the Whitemud Grazing Lease for several more years, until about 2010.
As a young man, Jim worked several winters at Smith Mills and farmed in the summers. In the late 70’s and early 80’s, Jim ran a slashing crew for Adrian Erickson. This took him all over Alberta & B.C. through some very rugged terrain. He enjoyed the work as it afforded him the opportunity to be in the back country and enjoy the beautiful scenery where he could spend his days with nature.
Jim loved his family. He and his brothers got into some mischief, as most boys do, but they always had fun together, along with the neighborhood boys.
Jim met and married Patsy Grundy in 1957 and they had 2 beautiful daughters, Colleen & Ann, who were his pride and joy. Later he met Mary Christian and together they raised her last 2 daughters, Corrine & Percilla, and her nephew, Micheal. Mary and Jim were together till the end; fot 40 years! He loves all of his children and most of all his grandchildren.
Jim will be missed by his family, his friends and everyone whose life he touched. He always had a kind word, a helping hand and a big smile for everyone.
Jim is predeceased by his mother and father; his sisters, Helen, Norma & Lena; his brothers, Donald, Robert, Lloyd & Edward.
He leaves behind to mourn, his wife, Mary (who passed mere hours after Jim); daughters, Colleen Thompson & Ann (Jim) Gibson; grandchildren, Christopher, Samantha & Jessica; brother, John (Josephine); and sister, Martha (Sean) Boyd.
A Celebration of Life will be held and announced at a later date.
If friends so desire, donations may be made to the Alberta Kidney Foundation as expressions of sympathy.
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August 6 1936 August 24 2020
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Jim Pearson August 6 1936 August 24 2020..
Chapel of Memories Funeral Homes & Crematorium
Décès pour la Ville: Peace River, Province: Alberta