On May 6th we lost a special guy. Our dad, James Whyte, passed away.
Most of you will remember him as “The Crazy Whyteman”.
Dad worked for the MTO for many years until he retired in 1994. He enjoyed his job and had many stories to tell, and even took us for rides out to see a flooded road or a beaver dam that was causing problems. After retirement he had many odd jobs to keep busy, from work at B&M, to work at tourist camps and occasional babysitter to the grandkids.
He was an avid fisherman and also enjoyed hunting and spending time at Cedar Lake at the cabin with his family and friends. They spent many weekends with dad on “adventures” or just playing cards and sitting around the fire.
Those who knew Jim, knew he was a jack of all trades, master of none. We say this with love, as he was always willing to lend a hand or tried to fix one thing or another, even if he didn’t know how. There were occasions when machinery may have come back to us with extra parts even though we didn’t send it with extras.
He loved to explore the bush, garbage dumps and old settlements. He always came home with some treasure he found. The cabin and his home are filled with many of these items. Fish hooks, old bottles and signs, you name it he “collected” it. Travelling the Sioux and Hudson Highways will never be the same now without dad to tell us where this road goes, and where lakes are and things that he found and did along the way. He knew the highway well since he will tell you he walked every mile surveying it. He also spent many hours finding and collecting stamps and saving them in his books, and has built a rather large collection he was very proud of.
Dad had a very silly side to him that most people knew. He would just have to wiggle those crazy eyebrows and cross his eyes at Britney and Greg to get them giggling. They loved to be silly with their Papa Jim, and listened when he told them stories about places and things or sometimes just making stuff up to tell them, but they believed him. He was always ready for a good gag or joke.
Jim was predeceased by his wife Elizabeth (Betty).He leaves to this world his mother Charlotte and sisters Dale and Maureen and their families, as well as his children Christine (John), Tim, Karen (Brannon), Patrick Derosier and his grandchildren Britney and Greg as well as Taylor and Alex.
Our family would like to thank all of the nursing staff and doctors and others at DRHC that have spent time caring for our dad over the last couple of years since mom passed, especially these last couple of months. A special thank you to the staff at the satellite unit where he was living during the covid quarantine time. We can’t thank the staff there enough for keeping him comfortable and safe when we couldn’t because of the world’s current situation. Knowing he was cared for so well has made the situation easier.
Cremation has taken place and a private interment will be held at a later date.
If friends and family wish, donations can be made online in his name to the DRHC (specify dialysis unit) or the Canadian Kidney Foundation.
Arrangement entrusted through Stevens Funeral Home. Condolences may be posted at www.stevensfuneralhomes.ca
