Who was John Cumming? He was our brother, Dad, Grandfather, Great-grandfather, and friend.
John was born in County Fordyce, Banffshire, Scotland on 5 September 1921, the second of four children to John and Jessie Cumming, a farm manager and his wife. In 1925 John senior brought his young family to Canada and started working on farms in the Harris and Bents area of Saskatchewan. Eventually Grandpa bought his own farm near Harris. The farm is still in the family.
John grew up during the depression. He went to grade 10 in a one room school house and worked on the farm. He remembered those days fondly. They instilled in him values of family, honesty and hard work by which he lived the rest of his life.
Like many of his generation John’s life was interrupted by WWII. John joined the RCAF in June 1942 and became an aero engine technician. He served at St Thomas Ontario, Calgary, Medicine Hat and Edmonton, all Commonwealth Air Training Bases. In 1944 John met and married our mother Joey in Edmonton.
After the war John trained as an auto mechanic with Ford Motor Company and worked in Rosetown and Dinsmore Saskatchewan. By 1957 he wanted his own business so he opened a service station in Calgary. John was a great mechanic but a poor business man. In 1960 the service station closed and he moved his family to Edmonton where he worked for Taylor Pearson and Carson. He was transferred to Dawson Creek in 1963. In1966 TPC closed in Dawson Creek and John opened his own shop, Cumming Automotive. John had learned about business from his Calgary experience, as a result, he operated a respected and successful auto repair business for many years. John’s honesty in dealing with people and his technical skills were respected throughout the community.
John wasn’t all work, he liked to play also. He loved the outdoors, as a family we enjoyed many camping holidays. John also enjoyed boating, fishing, hunting, cards, horseshoes and golf. He was a long time member of the Dawson Creek Legion and Dawson Creek Seniors Club. Many of the ladies will remember how much he loved to dance. John was also a member of the Dawson Creek Auto Club.
On September 5th 2001 we had a very special day with John. With 100% family attendance we celebrated John’s 80th birthday. Everyone loved their brother, father, grandfather and friend so much they made an extra effort to share this special day with him.
Halloween Day 2006 was not a great day for John as he fell on the ice and broke his right hip. From being active and living on his own he was now in a wheelchair and living in Pouce Coupe Care Home and later Rotary Manor. The staff took great care of John where his smile and sense of humor helped every one through each day.
Time took its toll on John and he quietly passed away on 20th April 2011 age 89. He kept his sense of humor and that big bright smile till the end.
John will be greatly missed by his sisters Mary Basler, Violet/Ray Morse. Brother George/Betty Cumming. Children Dan/ Noni Cumming, Denise/Allister Pedersen, Gordon/Karen Cumming. Grandchildren Stephen Cumming, Kristy/ Mark Ruel, Jenny Pedersen/Andre Duguay, Christopher/Ada Cumming, Michael/Elizabeth Cumming. Great Grandchildren Nina Cumming and Owen Ruel.
A Funeral service was held on Friday, April 29, 2011 at 11:00 am at the Bergeron Funeral Chapel, Dawson Creek, British Columbia. Reverend Barbara Pilozow officiated. Eulogy presented by Dan Cumming.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to Bergeron Funeral Services & Crematorium Ltd.
250-782-2577 Dawson Creek, British Columbia 1-800-577-4877
