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James Frederick “Jim” Doig
1925-2023
It is with sadness, although with gratitude for a life well lived, that the family of James Frederick Doig, CD, B.Sc, B.Ed, NSLS, CLS announces his death on June 18, 2023 at the Veterans Unit, Fishermen’s Memorial Hospital, Lunenburg NS.
Jim Doig was born on July 11, 1925 in Saint John, New Brunswick.
In 1943, at the age of 18, he enlisted in the Canadian Army as a private soldier. He qualified as a paratrooper and was commissioned in 1945. He remained in the post-war regular army, serving in Korea with 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment. Following the ceasefire in 1953, he continued to work in Korea as a member of the UN Military Armistice Commission operating in the Demilitarized zone.
Returning to civilian life, Jim chose a career as a land surveyor. In 1958 he and Madeline Ellen West married and they made their home in Lawrencetown, Annapolis County, where they raised their daughter Mary. After 10 years as survey instructor at the Nova Scotia Land Survey Institute (now the Centre for Geographic Sciences, NSCC), Jim became principal in 1968, retiring in 1986.
While working full time at NSLSI, he obtained a B.Sc. (Mathematics) and a B.Ed. at Acadia University. He commanded the West Nova Scotia Regiment in the 1960s, retiring with the rank of Colonel and was later Militia Advisor for mainland Nova Scotia. He was a life member and former president of the Association of Nova Scotia Land Surveyors and an honorary member of the Canadian Institute of Geomatics. He became a Canada Lands Surveyor in 1980. He served as Village Commissioner in Lawrencetown and was a long time member of Lawrencetown Branch No. 112, The Royal Canadian Legion.
After retirement, Jim and Madeline moved to Wolfville, where they enjoyed 22 more years together. Jim became a consultant whose expertise was in boundary law. He wrote articles for survey journals and contributed a chapter for the textbook “Survey Law in Canada.”
When Madeline became ill, Jim cared for her at home until her death in 2008. Then, due to the advancing macular degeneration that eventually stole his sight, he moved to Mahone Bay to be with Mary and her husband Peter. In 2020 he moved to the Veterans Unit, Fishermen’s Memorial Hospital, Lunenburg.
He was always an avid reader, especially of military history. When his eyesight failed he was very grateful for CNIB audiobooks. Over the years his interests and activities were diverse: canoeing, bee keeping, genealogical research, gardening, chess, playing the stock market, hooking rugs and learning to play the bagpipes. He was a strong believer in lifelong learning. He had a quietly dry sense of humour, enjoyed a cold beer or a white wine on the front verandah, reading a good obituary, consuming anything chocolate, and discussing current events. A reserved, gentle and thoughtful man, he always had time to listen and provide a well considered opinion. Jim valued his family and friends and enjoyed keeping in touch with his and Madeline’s siblings and their families. He was especially fond of his grandchildren Krista and Patrick. His great grandchildren, Adele, Betty and Lydia absolutely enchanted him. He loved being their Great Grandad, or, as they called him, their GG Jim.
Jim is predeceased by his wife Madeline, parents Hilda (Longley) and Frederick Doig, sisters Barbara Biggs, Marjorie Toole, Mary Curren, and brother David Doig, all of Saint John, and sister Jean Miller of Branford, Connecticut.
He is survived by daughter Mary Doig and son-in-law Peter Redden, Mahone Bay; grandchildren Patrick (Jennifer Smeltzer) Redden, Porters Lake; Dr. Krista (Jacob) Ritchie, Halifax; great granddaughters Adele, Bettina, and Lydia Ritchie, Halifax; sisters-in-law Myrna Conrad and Mildred West, both of Kentville; and many nieces and nephews.
He wanted no funeral service, and in keeping with his wishes to contribute to medical science, a brain donation was made to the Maritime Brain Tissue bank.
At a later date, his ashes will be interred at Lower Horton Cemetery, next to Madeline.
His family gives their everlasting and heartfelt thanks to the nurses, support staff and volunteers at the Veterans Unit for their kind and compassionate care. In particular, we thank Amy Bezeau, Recreation Therapist, who brought joy and interest to his last, most difficult years.
Should you wish, donations to one of his favourite charities would be much appreciated: SHAID Tree Animal Shelter, Mahone Bay Food Bank, CNIB, or any charity of your choice.
Arrangements entrusted to the care of Mahone Funeral Home, P.O. Box 200, 32 Parish St., Mahone Bay, NS B0J 2E0 (902-624-8241). Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: mahonefuneral.ca
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SHAID Tree Animal Shelter
100 High St., Suite 138
Bridgewater Nova Scotia B4V 1V9
E-mail: info @shaidanimalshelter.com
Telephone: 902-543-4849
Mahone Bay Area Food Bank Association
45 School St.
P.O. Box 489
Mahone Bay NS B0J 2E0
902-624-0890
Canadian National Institute for the Blind (NS)
Halifax Office
6136 Almon St.
Halifax NS B3K 1T8
Ph: 902-453-1480
MAHONE FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICE
“Founded in 1883 – Serving the Community for 140 years.”
19252023
Death notice for the town of: Mahone-Bay, Province: Nova Scotia
death notice James Frederick Jim Doig 19252023
obituaries notice James Frederick Jim Doig 19252023
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of James Frederick Jim Doig 19252023 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.