JAMES HARVEY “JIM McNIVEN, FORMERLY OF VULCAN PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY AT THE LITTLE BOW AUXILIARY HOSPITAL, CARMANGAY, ALBERTA NOVEMBER 16, 1997 AT THE AGE OF 76 YEARS.
JIM IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE AND BEST FRIEND FAY, A DAUGHTER CAROL (DON) WRIGHT OF DIDSBURY, FIVE SONS DAN (BONNIE) OF BALLINAFAD, ONTARIO, JIM (CATHIE) OF VULCAN, MICHAEL (KATHY) AND PETER (GAIL) ALL OF CESSFORD, TOM (JOANNE) OF VULCAN, FIFTEEN GRANDCHILDREN, RON, LEXI, ELLA, CASEY, MALCOLM, ROY, COLIN, MARY ANN, KEVIN, SHARI, DANIEL, JAMES, CHRISTA, RANDY AND DAINE, THREE BROTHERS, DON (MEGAN), FRANK (JESSIE) AND DAN (VICKY), TWO SISTERS, MAE (BLAKE) SPRINGER OF HIGH RIVER AND ELSIE WILLARD OF WETASKIWIN, A SISTER-IN-LAW, MARY McNIVEN OF CRESTON, NUMEROUS NIECES AND NEPHEWS.
JIM WAS PREDECEASED BY HIS PARENTS DAN AND LILLY (nee:COUL) MCNIVEN, A BROTHER CHARLIE AND A BROTHER-IN-LAW JACK WILLARD.
JIM WAS BORN JUNE 14, 1921 AT HIGH RIVER, ALBERTA TO DANIEL EVELYN AND LILY (nee:COUL) McNIVEN AND LIVED IN THE VULCAN AREA ALL OF HIS LIFE. HE ATTENDED GRADE ONE IN HIGH RIVER, THEN HE ATTENDED COTTONWOOD GROVE SCHOOL. JIM BEGAN FARMING WITH HIS FATHER ON THE FARM WEST OF THE CORNER STORE, HE MARRIED FAY LOIS STEINER IN 1942 AND TOGETHER THEY CONTINUED WORKING HIS FATHER’S LAND, RAISED LIVESTOCK AND RAISING HIS
OWN FAMILY IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE HE WAS RAISED. DURING SEVERAL WINTERS JIM ATTENDED CHICAGO VOCATION SCHOOL IN CALGARY WHERE HE EARNED HIS DIPLOMA IN WELDING AND DIESEL MECHANICS. JIM ALSO WAS A SKILLED ELECTRICIAN HAVING EARNED HIS RURAL ELECTRIFICATION CERTIFICATE THROUGH EXPERIENCE. HE WIRED ALL AROUND THE COUNTY OF VULCAN WHERE HE WAS WELL KNOWN FOR HIS SKILL AND GENTLEMANLY MANNER.
HIS NEVER ENDING DESIRE FOR A CHALLENGE, ENABLED HIM, AT THE AGE OF 45 YEARS, TO REALIZE HIS DREAM, TO BECOME A PRIVATE PILOT AND FLY HIS OWN PLANE.
HE WAS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE FLYING FARMERS OF ALBERTA FOR MANY YEARS.
JIM BATTLED WITH ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE FOR MANY YEARS, AND DURING THESE YEARS, THE LOVING CARE THAT HE RECEIVED IN THE VULCAN EXTENDICARE AND LITTLE BOW AUXILIARY HOSPITAL MADE THIS TIME MUCH EASIER FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY.
FUNERAL SERVICES WERE HELD WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 19, 1997 AT CENTRAL CHURCH OF CHRIST, VULCAN, WITH REV. DOUG BARRIE OFFICIATING. INTERMENT FOLLOWED AT THE VULCAN CEMETERY.
CASKET BEARERS WERE GRANDSONS; RONALD, MALCOLM, ROY, COLIN, KEVIN AND DANIEL McNIVEN.
REFRESHMENTS WERE SERVED BY THE LADIES OF THE CANDLELIGHT CIRCLE IN THE VULCAN LODGE HALL.
IF FRIENDS SO DESIRE, MEMORIAL TRIBUTES IN JIM’S MEMORY COULD BE MADE TO LITTLE BOW AUXILIARY HOSPITAL, CARMANGAY BOX 160, CARMANGAY, ALBERTA TOL ONO.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS IN CARE OF VULCAN FUNERAL HOME, DIRECTORS.