Obituary of James Gordon Purdy

Sackville, N.B.- It is with great sadness that the family of Dr. James Gordon Purdy of Sackville, announce his passing at the Georges L. Dumont Hospital on Tuesday, September 21, 2010, following a lengthy battle with kidney disease. James was born on August 10, 1925 in North Sydney, Cape Breton, but moved to Truro as a boy. After completing his year at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, he joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1942 and served until 1945. After discharge, he enrolled in the Ontario Veterinary College and upon graduation came back to Nova Scotia, settling in Amherst where he practiced both large and small animal medicine in Cumberland County from 1950-1968. James moved to Riverview N.B. and built the Riverview Animal Hospital and continued to practice small animal medicine. In 1978, he moved with his family to Sackville where he continued a reduced practice of small animals until 1990. James was a life member of the Sackville Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion and of the Nova Scotia Veterinary Association. He served as President of the Rotary Club of Sackville; Sackville Curling Club and the Tantramar Liberal Association. James served as Sackville Town Councillor from 1995-2004, was a member of the Board of Directors at the Drew Nursing Home and a member of the New Brunswick Veterinary Association. In 2007, James was the recipient of the Louise Breau Memorial Award for his dedication to his community and the Province of New Brunswick from the Union of Municipalities of NB and Environmental Citizen of the Year for his work in helping to found the Westmorland-Albert Solid Waste Commission. He was also honoured with a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club of Sackville for his service to the Club and the community. An avid outdoorsman and angler, James especially enjoyed a good fight with an Atlantic salmon. He traveled extensively and visited all regions of Canada and many areas of the world including: England, Ireland, USA, Spain, Algeria, Jamaica, Cuba, China, Russia, Kenya, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tahiti. A loving husband, father and grandfather, James will be sadly missed by his wife of 40 years, Susan (Tilt) Purdy; his four children, Elizabeth Purdy, Phyllis Purdy, Charlotte (David) Purdy-Weir and Timothy James (Christa) Purdy; three grandchildren, Caela Jane, Benjamin James and Marion Elizabeth and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Gordon T. Purdy and Alma L.(Kaiser) and three sisters, Eleanor, Marion and Joan. Arrangements are entrusted to Campbell’s Funeral Home, 89 Bridge Street, Sackville, N.B. (364-8188). In keeping with James’ wishes there will be no visitation. A Masonic service will be held on Friday, September 24, 2010 at 7 PM at Campbell’s Funeral Home followed by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #26 service at 7:30 PM. The funeral service will take place at the Sackville United Church on Saturday, September 25, 2010 at 2 PM with Rev. Colin Grant officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of James may be made to the Sackville Memorial Hospital, Dr. Georges L. Dumont Hospital Foundation (Home Peritoneal Dialysis Unit), H.M.C.S. Sackville Canadian Naval Memorial Trust or to the charity of one’s choice.