James Carpentier, 1925-2009

Jim Carpentier passed away March 22, 2009 after a brief struggle with pneumonia. Jim’s parents Charles and Alma homesteaded at Findlater, Sask. in 1904. They had eight children, seven sons followed by a daughter; Jim was born on their farm April 16 1925. Times were good until the drought hit, and it was so dry they couldn’t raise any crops. They heard the northern areas had not been struck, so they loaded everything they could into one freight car and headed to the Peace Country. Charles bought train tickets for Alma and the two youngest boys. Charles and the older boys, including Jimmy rode in the freight car. Charles homesteaded in Little Smoky, later they moved to New Fish Creek, which had lots of open land and where “the hay grew up to a horse’s belly”. Eventually the young people of the area started a Young Peoples’ Club. Jimmy and his best friend Billy Smith played for the monthly dances, with Jimmy on the violin. The boys never charged for their playing. They just took a silver collection and the money was used to buy balls, bats and to keep two ball gloves on hand. The ladies and girls brought lunch and it was always free. Jim married school teacher Mary MacKay, who arrived from Ontario in 1951 to teach at New Fish Creek. After a brief career working on the ferry boats on the Shuswap Lakes, Jim moved his young family to Rocky Mountain House in 1958. He worked for the family logging business with his brothers. Then he went into the oil patch where he became known as a skilled derrick man. Jim loved taking his family fishing, camping and hiking through the mountains, growing and tending his very large garden, feeding birds, and his ten grandchildren and one great grandchild. In June 2001, Jim became Papa to his last granddaughter Kahlan Wells. She put that childlike sparkle back in his eyes. Many happy hours were passed playing cards and checkers with her, feeding fish, going for walks or helping to find the potatoes growing in the garden. Despite his illness with Parkinson’s disease, his determination and will to survive was amazing. Jim took pride in living life on his own terms. If the doctors told him not to walk he would get on his bicycle and go for a ride. He was truly an inspiration to everyone who knew him. Jim has three daughters Deb, MaryJane, Jaimie and one son Greg. He was predeceased by two sons; Philip (2008) and Robert (1955). Philip’s wife Sherri was a very special friend who always had time for a coffee and a chat with him when he passed by on his way through town. Although he grumbled about the decline in his mobility, “If I was a tree I’d be down”, Jim was a pragmatic soul and maintained a cheerfulness about his situation that was recognized and appreciated by health care providers and those around him. We’d like to express our deepest gratitude to The Good Sam, Clearwater Centre, for providing a warm and caring home for dad in his struggle with Parkinson’s. We would also like the musicians who came to play there to know how much he enjoyed the days they would come to entertain. No service by Jim’s request. He will rest in peace next to his son Philip in the Pine Grove Cemetery. Cremation entrusted to the Rocky Mountain Crematorium.