IAN MORRISON

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IAN MORRISON We are very sad to announce the death of Dr. Ian Morrison July 22, 2013. Ian was the beloved husband of Margaret Morrison who sadly died on March 24, 2013. Ian was more than devastated by her loss, and we believe that Margaret and Ian will now be together forever. Wherever he is we have no doubt that his golf game will improve! Ian will be deeply missed by his daughters and sons-in-law Alex and Andy, and Stella and Mark. He also leaves behind his sister-in-law Jean Cameron, and her family, Thornton, Claire and Scott, all in Scotland. What follows is the standard obit stuff. If you want to read the really good stuff get your Kleenex and skip to the bottom! Ian was born to Scottish parents in 1934 in Calcutta India, during the British Raj. As a toddler he trekked in the Himalayas with his parents and the travel bug never left. He returned to Scotland to go to school, and while attending the faculty of medicine at the University of Glasgow he met our mother Margaret who would soon become his adoring wife of 55 years. Ian had a short service commission in the Royal Navy cruising the Arctic Circle (and saving unique beach pebbles and shells as keepsakes for our mom. We're sure he later regretted introducing her to the idea of custom made jewellery!). Although they were young when they got married, they packed up us kids and came by boat to Canada for dad's first job as a GP in Brandon, MB. We soon moved to Winnipeg and then to the USA where dad completed his specialty training in obstetrics and gynaecology. Our dad believed in service to community and equality. In his career he was involved in consultant fly-in visits to aboriginal reserves in Manitoba in the early 1970s to ensure access to high quality medical care, and later organized medical and nursing teams to provide educational visits to rural hospitals. He coordinated the inception and development of obstetric standards for the perinatal and maternal welfare committee of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba for several years after which he organized and directed a mobile ultrasound obstetric screening service for rural and aboriginal communities. He was the author and co-author of several peer reviewed publications and served on various provincial and national committees including the executive and president (1987) of the S.O.G.C. (Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Canada). When he wasn't travelling in Manitoba for work, he and our mom loved to see the world and in their lifetimes they visited most of the countries on the planet. They loved to travel and experience all the global cultures had to offer. Besides Margaret and his daughters, Ian had a few other interests (to call them hobbies would be an understatement!) Art, reading and golf. First, in his heart and spirit, Ian was an artist, from the amazing photos and memories of their travels he created glorious acrylic paintings. He was a master of colour and shape, and was always challenging himself to do better. Even though everyone else would see the magic in what he'd created, he longed to make it "more ........" Second was reading, and more learning. Our dad had a voracious appetite for books. An already cerebral guy, our dad continued to digest any and all, especially those dealing with space, chaos theory, PD James mysteries, chess and investing. He was a devotee of lifelong learning and absorbed knowledge like a sponge, doling out his new found tidbits to us and anyone else who could keep up. Finally, there was golf. The one and probably only thing Ian was not able to master. It challenged him as a diversion while he was working, and it haunted him in retirement when he and Margaret moved to the Okanagan in 1999. Ultimately what he loved most about golf was playing with his sons-in-law. We were a mere family of four, but around that famous dinner table we sounded like a family of 10! We argued, debated, laughed and cajoled; complimented, insulted and mocked; and laughed some more. Friends became family around that table and our dad and mom were the outrageous instigators of it all! When Ian and Margaret retired to the Okanagan, they of course brought that same table, and re-kindled that energy with their new friends and neighbours whom they always held so dear. There are no words to adequately describe the life our dad and mom gave us. They instilled in us confidence, tolerance, an open heart, lifelong learning and independence. Our dad's quiet patience and unwavering support were what steered us through our young lives to emerge on the other side successful, independent women, giving back to society in many ways. Our great and loving memories of our dad are innumerable. Every Christmas Eve, lying under the Christmas tree, impeccably decorated by the Divine Mrs. M, while our dad read The Night Before Christmas, is a lasting memory we still cherish today. That tradition morphed as we got older to a raucous and high spirited occasion with friends and neighbours, delighting in the joy of the season and the comfort and closeness of true friends (the furrier the better!). We will always remember the quiet pride in our dad's voice when he would congratulate us for some achievement or other. He never failed to let us know that he was proud and that he loved us, and that as long as we pursued our own passions and dreams, we would make him and our mom more than happy. Yes, we adored our dad. He was our shining example of a fine human being as we grew up; and our role model and mentor as we embarked on adulthood and careers. His influence will never fade and his inspiration lives on in our souls. The emptiness in our hearts is tempered only by our belief that this mere family of four can never be separated not in life and not in death. We sincerely thank Dr. Chris Toneff and his assistant Chelleen for going "above and beyond" for Ian. We also extend our deepest gratitude to the nurses at SP3 at Penticton Regional Hospital, and the excellent staff at Moog and Friends Hospice House in Penticton. Stella and Alex send a special, heartfelt thank you to Ian and Jamie Lange. Ian has requested that there be no funeral, but if you would like to remember him, please consider a donation to Moog & Friends Hospice House, P.O. Box 1105, 1701 Government Street, Penticton, BC, V2A 6J9 or SORCO - The South Okanagan Rehabilitation Centre for Owls, P.O. Box 1166, Oliver, BC, V0H IT0. Condolences may be sent to the family through providencefuneralhomes.com. Providence "Every Life Tells A Story" 250-493-1774

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 27, 2013