Meiklejohn, Donald
“I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;
And the wheel’s kick and wind’s song and white sail’s shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.”
Donald Meiklejohn set sail on his final voyage July 30, 2015. He was born to fisher-folk in 1928, in Portsoy, Scotland. He grew up in the hungry thirties and years of war and was known to supplement the family’s stew pot with the odd rabbit poached from the local nobility.
He was predeceased by his parents, James & Isa Ann, his brothers Ian & George, his sister Cathleen, his first wife Ena, and his step-son Dale (Debbie). He is survived by his wife Millie, son George, daughters Jennifer (George) and Kathryn (Gordon), step-son Glenn (Wendy), step-daughter Annette (Al) and grandchildren Lisa, Craig, Dan, David, Adam, Montana, Zachary, Ricky, Patricia, Tianna and Jordan & great-grandchildren Jared, Seamus and Nixon.
Don left school at 14 to help support his family. His first job, delivery boy, required that he learn to ride a bike on his first day. His list of careers eventually expanded to include: fireman, fisherman, coalman, bartender, quarry worker for the famous Portsoy pink marble, construction labourer and auto factory worker. In 1965 he immigrated to Hamilton, Ontario where he worked in construction and at Stelco. He moved to Paradise (VI) in 1973, working first in forestry at Northwest Bay Division and then as a custodian for SD 69, retiring in 1992 for a very well-earned rest.
Don used to say that he wouldn’t die until the Canucks won the Stanley Cup, but they let him down. (Can anyone live long enough for that?) Don was known for his love of family and friends, his sense of humour and his fondness for music, golf, cribbage and dark rum.
Our world is diminished by the loss of a good man. We will miss him always. We wish him safe harbours.
Thanks to the staff at Qualicum Gardens for caring for Don these last few months, especially his girlfriend Julie. To honour Don’s memory, please do a favour for a friend or give to your favourite charity.
A memorial tea will be held Friday, August 14, 2015 at Yates Funeral Home from 2:00 pm-4:00 pm. Friends are welcome to come share their memories.