Obituary of James William Anderson

Dad first came to BC from New Brunswick where he was born and raised. As a young man, in 1949 at the age of 18 he travelled west to Fernie looking for work and adventure. After a few years he went back East to Ontario where he met and married his wife Donna in 1952.

Over the next few years they had 3 children - Daniel, Virginia, and Joseph. In 1964 they pulled up stakes and along with 2 dogs headed west to relocate to Fernie. Staying at first in the provincial park, they took a day trip to Cranbrook. At that point Mom decided that Cranbook was where they should move to and they did.

In a matter of days, Dad bought his “ Mansion on the Hill “ a couple of miles west of Cranbrook that he had promised his wife. Dad lived in that house for over 55 years. During that time he worked numerous jobs - logging in the bush, at Crestbrook sawmill, with the CNR, at CM&S (Cominco) and was one of the original mailmen delivering mail in Cranbrook.

After retiring he pursued his love of and training of hunting dogs, specifically German Shorthair Pointers and several breeds of Bloodhounds. He won many awards at the Trials competitions over the years that followed and was well known and respected in the sport. He was occasionally called by the Conservation Service to use his dogs to track a dangerous bear or cougar, He was also the proud winner of a Boone & Crocket award for a record size cougar.

As his age got the better of him he had to move to an assisted living facility and passed away at the age of 93 in the hospital with his daughter and son-in-law at his side. He was the last of 12 brothers and sisters. He was also predeceased by his ex-wife Donna, special friend Marie, and grandson Steve Magis. He is survived by his 3 children; Dan, Virginia (Rick) and Joe (Terri), 5 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, 2 step great grandchildren, along with his good friends Art, Brian and Bob, as well as numerous family members back East.

There will be no funeral service at his request

Those we love don’t go away,
they walk beside us every day.