James H. [Jim] Perkins

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of James Hazelwood (Jim) Perkins on January 29th. Jim died peacefully at Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert from complications of Alzheimer’s disease with his wife and daughters by his side. Jim will be remembered as a gentle man and a gentleman. Born in Markdale, Ontario, on July 16, 1931, he was the second son of Jack and Verda Perkins. Jim studied forestry at the University of Toronto from 1950 to 1954. Jim married the love of his life, Mary Gillespie, also of Markdale, in 1954. After university, Jim worked in the northern Ontario bush for the Longlac Pulp and Paper Company (later, the Kimberly-Clark Pulp and Paper Company). As a young forester, he witnessed the changeover from horse power to machine power. While living in Longlac, Jim and Mary’s three children, Joan, Julie and Christopher, were born. In 1964, he transferred with Kimberly-Clark to work at a pulp mill operation in northern California near Redding, where the Perkins family lived for five years. In 1969, Jim was offered a position in Prince Albert, working for Saskatchewan Pulpwood Ltd., the company that supplied lumber to the pulp mill, then owned by Parsons & Whittemore Inc. He retired as Vice President of Weyerhaeuser Canada Ltd., Timberlands Saskatchewan, in 1989. After Jim and Mary retired, they enjoyed travelling, especially to Hawaii, California, and Nevada, every winter. Jim wrote a book for his family called Partial Recall, a first-hand account of his life experiences which is both colourful and compelling. Jim was predeceased by: his brother and sister-in-law: William and Jean Perkins, and sister-in-law: Mary Gillespie. Left to remember him are his wife of almost 64 years: Mary; his daughters: Joan (Gordon) Brewerton, and Julie (Bill) Thorpe; his estranged son: Christopher; his grandchildren: John (Carolene) Thorpe, Emily (Paul) Hurd, Leah (Karl) Phillips, Colin (Jill) Thorpe, Laura (Joel) Antymniuk, and Grant Perkins; six great-grandchildren; his brother-in-law: Arthur Gillespie; and much-loved nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Dr. Craig Elmer, Prince Albert Home Care, and the compassionate nursing staff at Victoria Hospital for their care and support. In lieu of flowers, the family gratefully suggests a donation to the Victoria Hospital Foundation, Rose Garden Hospice, or a charity of one’s choice. In accordance with Jim’s wishes, there will be no funeral service. A private family gathering will be held at a later date.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.grays.ca.  Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Gray’s Funeral Chapel, (306-922-4729).

• Date : 2018-01-29
• Location : Prince Albert