JOHNSTONE, James Harper
September 16, 1948 – October 31, 2011

Fun-loving gentleman Jim-bob died in Shuswap Lake hospital early on Hallowe'en. He enjoyed the day before, visiting with pals, then slipped away in his sleep.

Jim had a full life, though just 63. Born in Orillia, Ontario, he grew up an air force brat — nine addresses in 11 years, from Gimli to Miramichi. Moving so often, family was the one constant. Jim and brother Bill formed a lifelong bond, and mom Bessie sparkled all their lives with young sister Janice.

When RCAF dad Mervyn retired with the family to their farm, 17-year-old Jim picked up a pair of drumsticks and spooked the cattle, whaling away on his drum kit. Jim tried every job from mining to grocery stores, even the air force for a month.

Jim joined the exodus of young Ontarians hitching rides out west. He social-worked with Vancouver's Cool Aid, cabined with Saturna hippies, then built a house and barn at 100 Mile House. With the "Bo Jam Stragglers" he toured small-town bars from Vancouver to Calgary. He met Sherle, and they had a son together, Kurtis Borhaven. After a short time near Edmonton, sadly, their relationship ended.

In the '80s, Jim lived near Peace River with new girlfriend Lana; best pal Gord Milne hung his guitar there awhile too. Gord's bluegrass infected Jim: he switched from drums to washboard. Their evolving "Skillet Lickers" bands played festivals right through the '90s.

When Gord kicked off that Alberta dust and moved to Shuswap Lake, Jim followed close behind. Jim lived with Jan Kudelka, who became a friend to the end. Jim got by with construction work; he loved carving. And such strength! He'd hold a 4x8 plywood overhead with his left hand and hammer it up backhanded with his right.

Yet bad luck hammered Jim back. When cancer took his pal Gord, his love of music died too. Then Jim lost his truck and his job. He moved to the Salmon Arm home of Raelene Luscombe, fulfilling an eight-year love affair, and his luck flipped: they married in March '09. But just one month later Raelene died. Jim spiralled down. Jim had liver disease, but depression had Jim.

Let us remember, though, Jim's deep passion for the good times. Please come celebrate his life at the Sunnybrae Community Hall (north of Salmon Arm, east of Tappen) this December 3rd, from 1 to 3. Then, months or years later, we'll sense something — a whiff of pipe tobacco, a brush flicking metal — and we'll recall how Jim-bob made us laugh.