Duncan Gordon McLachlan
January 12th, 2016
Gordon was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan to Jennie and Duncan McLachlan of Boharm, Sask. He was raised on the family farm west of Moose Jaw. After attending high school in Moose Jaw and Haney, BC he worked for Swifts packing as an accounting clerk.
From 1942-46 he served with the Royal Canadian Airforce, stationed in Montreal, the Maritimes, Labrador and the U.K.
He married Agnes Jean McDougall in 1949 and took a position with the Melfort Experimental Farm. Living in family housing on the Farm he was an active participant in the community, raised bees and gardened, his lifelong passion. Gwen, Rob, and Barb were born while living on the Farm but in1956 he bought a house in Melfort so that the children could attend school. He added to his community involvement the United Church, Burke Community Centre, the Elks Lodge, and school board. He was also a Cub leader for Rob's cub pack.
His youngest son, Bruce was born in 1961. Gord transferred to the Lacombe Research Station in 1963 where he worked as a lab technician in animal research. He built a house in Lacombe and took up a new hobby, river kayaking so the whole family enjoyed exploring the rivers of central Alberta.
In 1978 Gord and Jean retired to Nelson, BC where he built a log house on a large mountainside acreage. There he volunteered with the Blewett Watershed Committee, Nelson Electric Tramway Society, and United Church. Gord and Jean travelled extensively and particularly enjoyed trips to Hawaii with their Nelson friends. Gord also made annual trips to Moose Jaw on his motorcycle to visit family 'back home'.
After Jean's stroke in 1999 they moved to White Rock, BC. Gord volunteered with the SPCA as dog walker – big dogs only. Jean passed away in 2005 and Gord lived independently in White Rock until his passing at Peace Arch Hospital on January 12, 2016
Gordon's ashes will be interred in the Nelson Memorial Park Cemetery , Nelson, BC at a later date.
Survived by his loving family
Children:Gwendolyn Jean Gore (Bing) Vancouver, BC; Barbara Dawn Henderson, Hazelton, BC; Duncan Bruce McLachlan (Mary) Abbotsford, BC
Grandchildren: Cameron, Daniel and Braeden Gore; Rejeanne DeJong (Danny); Tom Henderson (Maddy)and Mary Henderson; Meaghan, Duncan and Chelsea McLachlan
Great Grandchildren: Christian, Brett and Arianna DeJong
Neices and nephew: Wendy McLaren, Donna Poole, Ron Thompson
Sister in Law: Mary McDougall, White Rock, BC
Predeceased by: His wife Agnes Jean McLachlan (2005), his son Robert Gordon McLachlan (1981); his parents Jennie May (1985) and Duncan Andrew (1989); his sister Nellie Esther Thompson (2001)
Gordon instilled in his children an appreciation of the natural world and all of the adventures it offered, a sense of community stewardship, as well as resourcefulness and independence. An acquaintance admiring her carpentry skill when building her house , asked his daughter Barbara how she did it. She replied, “No one said I couldn't”
You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence for the family.
Messages:
Condolences to Gordon's family.I have been honoured to have been a friend of Gordon and Jean since they moved to Nelson..Lunches after church, picnics in Lakeside Park,beach time in Hawaii and a climb to Pulpit Rock a few of the times enjoyed with them. Always enjoyed Gordon's sense of humor-there was always a "bright side" he said. I will miss this Gentleman and this gentle man from Moose Jaw. Elaine Hurley
Gordon and Jean were our next-door neighbours in Blewett and Keith was one of the builders of their log home. Gordon was a wonderfully wise and thoughtful person, knowledgeable and kind. We missed him when he left our neighbourhood, and we miss him even more now. Our condolences to his family. Kathy Harris, Blewett, BC.