SMITH, John Thomas (Tom)-

Peacefully at North Bay General Hospital, Scollard Site on Saturday March 18, 2006 at the age of 90 years. Survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Garnet McMillan. Dear father of Susan Parham of North Bay. He will be sadly missed by his two grandchildren Corey (Korinne) and Christopher (friend Deborah), and great grandchildren McKenna and Caleb. Also survived by many nieces and nephews and his special niece Linda O'Neil (John) of North Bay. Predeceased by his siblings.



Born in Buckingham, Quebec in 1916, Tom's family line came from Cork County Ireland. He worked as a young man in the mines of Northern Ontario, and on the Alaska Highway before marrying Garney in 1944. Tom and Garney moved from Kirkland Lake to North Bay in 1951 to open their own business. The White Rose Service Station would later move to Nipissing Junction and become Tom Smith's Shell Service Station. Retiring in 1970, Tom and Garney traveled the United States in the winters, while working at Summer YMCA camps in New York State. Not wanting to remain idle, Tom spent the next 16 years working at the North Bay Court House. An avid hunter and outdoorsman, Tom was an amateur pilot, and Lion's Club member for many years. In his later years, Tom enhanced his skills and love for the craft by enrolling in woodworking classes. Residents of Sunset Blvd., over the years will remember his garden.



Family will be receiving friends at HILLSIDE FUNERAL SERVICES, 362 Airport Rd., on Tuesday March 21 from 12 noon until time of funeral service at 2 p.m. at Hillside.



Donations to a charity of your choice will be gratefully acknowledged by his family.



Tom establish the Program for the Education of Native Teachers (PENT) at Brandon University, to name a few of his accomplishments. In 1986, the Manitoba Teachers' Society bestowed on him an Honorary Membership “as a token of esteem in which he is held by the members of the Manitoba Teachers' Society and in appreciation of his many services to Education in Manitoba.” Equally telling is the fact that former students continued to stay in touch with Royden up to the time of his death through visits, letters, and special Christmas packages. Royden's sense of humour was a defining trait, although not always immediately obvious to others as his “distinguished” presence was often first noticed. Royden was a literary person, curler, storyteller, musician, lapidarist, animal-lover, dedicated educator, and - as so many have recently observed - “a gentleman and a gentle man.”



We shall miss him. The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the committed and compassionate staff at Deer Lodge Centre who made special efforts to know and care for Royden during the last few months of his life. Cremation has taken place.



A memorial service will be held at St. Andrews River Heights United Church at 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 3, 2006 to celebrate Royden's life. Following the service, starting at 3:00 p.m., friends are invited to 84 Dunraven Ave. for an informal reception. Anyone wishing to honour Royden's life may do so by contributing to the University of Winnipeg Foundation or The Winnipeg Humane Society.