JAMES LORNE CARMICHAEL

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JAMES LORNE CARMICHAEL September 27, 1918 - April 5, 2014 Lorne passed away gracefully, at the age of 95, on April 5, 2014 at Irene Thomas Hospice in Ladner, BC, after his brave fight with cancer. Lorne was born and raised on a small farm in Nottasawaga County, Collingwood, ON. He met and married his wife Shirley on July 10, 1948 in Terrace Bay, ON. Lorne started working as a boatsman on the Great Lakes in the early 1930s, a machinist during the Second World War. He honed his construction abilities in Thunder Bay, ON: the city's Latin motto - A Posse ad Esse (From Possibility to Actuality) fitting Dad to a tee. With Mom he moved to Shilo, MB to work on a construction project which segued him to Winnipeg where he established Arlington Builders Ltd. His company was responsible for many iconic buildings such as Manitoba Institute of Technology (known now as Red River College), Lockhart Hall (University of Winnipeg), St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church and numerous others including the family cottage at West Hawk Lake, MB. After his building success he hung up his Holt Renfrew attire to begin his next enterprise: expanding his Interlake Bluegrass hobby' Farm into 300 head of cattle on 1000 acres of land, where he preferred his tractors "green". His love for automobiles, his love for freedom of the road, his pride in showing off his "79" year accident free driving record from ICBC took him on many epic road trips from the East to the West Coast of North America. Of course never short of an idea, a DRIVE from Winnipeg, with Mom in tow in 1994 led to his Tsawwassen residence for the next 20 years where he excelled at self-maintaining his roses, his garden, his home. Always to be seen on a ladder, paint brush in hand, tools dangling from his pockets... Dad was an avid and dedicated follower of business trends and the investment community throughout his life. His insight and ability to act served him well to keep up with the times. His endless thirst for knowledge enabled him to converse with anyone, on any subject, anytime. He reveled in the art of learning. His ability to stay up to date and in touch with recent events was exemplary. Being one of the first members of Point Roberts Golf and Country Club and participating in the Vancouver Sun Run from 1998 to 2008, were a matter of course. Dad's interest in healthy living saw him attending to his well-being beyond disease management model of health by subscribing to numerous alternative Health and Aging affirmative magazines and newsletters. Kitchen cabinets were always stocked to the hilt with a mindboggling array of supplements...as a backup. Predeceased by his loving wife of 64 years, Shirley Carmichael in October, 2012. Survived by his son Donald; his girls' (daughters) Judy, Deb (Al), Cathy (Terry); grandchildren Sadie, Sam (Sarah), Lindsay and Surya, and great-grandchildren Payden and Owen. Heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the BC Cancer Agency (Dr. Wu); Delta Care Home Palliative Health team; Doctors Duncan and Lobb, and to the caring staff at Irene Thomas Hospice in Ladner, BC. And may you find your way home... Donations may be made in Lorne's memory to Irene Thomas Hospice, in lieu of flowers. Delta Funeral Home (604) 946-6040

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 19, 2014