James Shearer (Jim) Crawford

James Shearer (Jim) Crawford (5 November 1925 – 27 October2025)

The world is a little less cheerful with the peaceful passing of Jim Crawford in Vancouver on 27 October 2025, a few days before his 100th birthday. Family and friends were by his side in person and by Zoom before his passing.

Jim is survived by his eldest son Cameron, his daughter Althea, his daughters-in-law Heather and Josie, grandsons Robert, Jordan, and Andrew, granddaughters Clara, Emily, Rachel, and Julia, and their spouses and families which include seven great grandchildren. Jim is also survived by close friends Nicole Shea, Lolly Prinzen, and Joan Brown.

Jim was predeceased by his wife Gwen (Margaret Gwenyth, d. 1994), his son Bob (d. 2012), his dear friend Tony Prinzen (d. 2024), and long-time partner Joyce Shea (d. 2025).

For most of the 1950’s and 60’s, Jim was a successful radio ad salesman for CJOR radio in Victoria, CKLG and CKNW radio in Vancouver, and for television at BCTV, before starting his own advertising and creative design company with colleagues in the late 1960s and working independently into the 1990’s after that. He loved singing and sang regularly for many years with the choir at St. Catherine’s Anglican Church in North Vancouver and with the Vancouver Bach Choir.

Jim was never short of a hilarious new anecdote or joke, with which he regaled family and friends with perfect comedic timing. He loved barbecuing and gourmet cooking, was a skilled cabinet maker and carpenter, really appreciated WWII-era big band jazz, and supported the creative projects and other activities of his children with attention and care. He took up landscape painting in his later years and, not surprisingly, produced pieces that anyone would be happy to hang in their home. He encouraged his children to do their level best at whatever they did.

Jim’s family would like to thank the staff and residents at the Cedars at Beulah Gardens, where he lived very happily for several years before moving to Banfield Pavillion, where he also lived happily for the past year and whose staff have been most supportive. Many thanks are also due to the UBC Body Donation Program, to which Jim decided many years ago to offer his body for medical research, and to Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Services, who have been most helpful and supportive.

Jim has requested no flowers or other memorial gifts but that those so wishing to consider supporting an organization of their choice.