JAMES MURRAY MCDERMID “SPUD”

James Murray McDermid, “Spud”, a life-long resident of Providence Bay, died peacefully at Mindemoya Hospital on Monday, September 28, 2015 at the age of 85. Born to Elsie (nee Bailey) and James McDermid in Tehkummah on July 16, 1930. Beloved husband of Audrey “Toots” (nee Lockyer) McDermid. Loving father of Sally and husband Jim Dawson of Toronto and Jamie McDermid of Providence Bay. Proud grandfather of Jesse and Morgan and special great-grandfather of Hunter and Mya. Predeceased by both his brothers, Irving and Blair. Will be missed by in-laws Floyd and Lila Lockyer, Sally Lachapelle and Dean and Darlena Lockyer, all of Little Current. Will always be remembered by many nieces, nephews and friends. Murray led an accomplished life but his greatest love was for his family. He was a proud Haweater who was proud of his heritage and loved his kilt. He was a curler and a hockey player and by the age of 16 he knew he wanted to be a ballplayer. He was a hard-throwing right hand pitcher and a hard-hitting left-handed hitter. He cherished his time at Hornel, New York, playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers Farm Team. He taught himself leather craft and he schooled many Islanders in the craft. He loved his camp in Carter Bay, deer hunting and cutting wood. He also loved heading north with the Sloss brothers to moose hunt. Murray was the Providence Bay Cemetery contact person for over 50 years, overseeing of all the cemetery needs. He won Citizen of the Year Award last year from the Providence Bay Agricultural Society. He served on the Providence Bay Community Centre Board and on the Providence Bay Discovery Centre Board until his death and was a member of Providence Bay United Church for 63 years. For his many years of dedication and service, he has been recognized as a Melvin Jones Fellow For Dedication For Humanitarian Services by the Lions Club International Foundation, and was awarded the Providence Bay/Spring Bay Lions Club Lifetime Achievement Award and the Golden Hammer for 50 years in the hardware/building supply business. He served on the Board of Directors for 29 years for Home Hardware and, after those years of service, Home Hardware made a resolution to honour him: he was inducted into Home Hardware Builders’ Circle. His name is engraved on the Home Hardware Stores Builders’ Circle granite monument located in the Tribute Garden in St. Jacobs, Ontario. Family and friends will gather at the Providence Bay Cemetery for a graveside service (the date and time are not determined yet–expecting mid October). Donations to Mindemoya Hospital Auxiliary would be greatly appreciated. (Island Funeral Home will only be accepting cheques). Record your thoughts, memories and photos at www.islandfuneralhome.ca.