James Edison McLelland

Jim passed away peacefully early in the morning at Thompson Center in Whitehorse, Yukon on June 15, 2024 at the age of 87. His great conversational skills, reflecting his wide-ranging interests and world travels, will be missed by family and friends alike. He was born in Griffin, SK at home very suddenly with only his six-year-old sister Lorraine assisting their mother, Anna, as his father, Nelson, didn’t make it back from shopping in town in time for his birth. He attended the one room district school, completed his high school in Regina and went on to studies and graduate work in Mathematics and Physics at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon SK. His academic career took him to the University of California at Berkely where he completed a PhD in Mathematics and Philosophy. He taught university level Mathematics in Saskatoon, SK in Ibadan, Nigeria and for 30 years at Acadia University in Wolfville, NS. He moved to the Yukon to be closer to family and found community at Macaulay Lodge and then again at Thompson Center with a wonderful circle of friends and caring staff. He loved his church family at the Whitehorse United Church, attended regularly when he was able and recently joined as a member. He had a wonderful lilting tenor voice, loved singing and played a mean folk guitar back in the day. Jim was also one of the early grape growers in the Annapolis Valley, now a thriving area for viticulture and award-winning vineyards, and was an accomplished wine and cider maker in his own right.

He is survived by his sister Lorraine Rozelle (Doug Rozelle) of Vernon, BC; brother-in-law Jack Dueck of High River AB; his daughter Shauna McLelland (Kevin Stokesbury) of Westport, MA; and his daughter-in-law Jeanette Gallant (Bernard Luken) of Whitehorse, YT. He also leaves behind grandchildren Kasey Stokesbury-Stein (Richard Stein), Tyrez Stokesbury, Taysia Stokesbury, Henry Stokesbury, Kaden McLelland, Daniel McLelland, and additionally great granddaughters Avery Stokesbury and Azaria Stokesbury. He maintained warm connections with nephews and nieces and extended family.

He is predeceased by his parents Nelson and Anna (Hoffas) McLelland; brother Bob McLellan and sister-in-law; sister Mary McLellan; little sister Jean Dueck who was the first director of nursing at Thompson Center; his former wife Lynn (Hollingshead) McLelland; and his beloved son Jamie Mclelland.

A celebration of Jim’s life will be held at the Whitehorse United Church, 601 Main Street, Whitehorse, YT on Saturday October, 26 at 10 am. An informal reception and visitation will follow at the church. The service will be live streamed on Facebook through the church website for family and friends from afar or can be viewed afterwards on their YouTube channel. Please see whitehorseunitedchurch.ca.

Donations may be made in Jim’s name to Thompson Centre Resident Council. Please include note: First Nations Programming on cheques and mail to Thompson Centre Resident Council, PO Box 2703 (H19), Whitehorse, YT Y1A 2C6 Canada.