John Ord Staley

John Ord STALEY;  Father, grandfather, and great-grandfather passed away peacefully on July 15, 2024 at age 96 surrounded by his family, in Whitehorse YT.

John leaves behind those who loved him most; son Rick (Karmen) Staley, daughter Leslie (Mike) Harper, son Peter (Trena) Staley, and daughter Cheryl (Kerry) Horoscoe,  all of Whitehorse;  9 Grandchildren, and 6 Great Grandchildren. He was predeceased by the love of his life, Birdie of 92 years who passed in June of 2021.

John was born June 25, 1928 in Vegreville, AB and grew up on a homestead near Cold Lake, the second of 7 children.  His father was away most summers, so it was up to him and his older brother to look after things on the homestead (wood cutting, fishing and hunting for food).  While attending school in Cold Lake, John got a job at the Hudson Bay Company Store hauling water and cutting wood. The storekeeper saw he was a hard and smart worker and suggested he apply for a job with the Hudson Bay Company.  He applied and was posted to Fort Chipewyan AB and worked there for a few years until transferring to the Hudson Bay Post in Telegraph Creek, BC. He enjoyed Telegraph Creek and it was here he met Father Mouchet and they became lifelong friends.  He then moved to manage the Hudson Bay Store in Fort Selkirk on the Yukon River where he stayed until the store closed in 1951.

Not wanting to leave the Yukon he got a job on the Yukon Telegraph Line, walking between Carmacks and Dawson City, cutting trees off the line, and replacing insulators.  While visiting a friend in the hospital in Whitehorse he met a young nurse named Birdie and romance was in the air.  He decided that walking the telegraph line was not for him and moved to Whitehorse getting a job at the Airforce Grocery store (where the Airport Chalet is now).  In February of 1953 John and Birdie were married.  They bought a house in Whiskey Flats (where the SS Klondike is now) and soon started a family.  An opportunity came up and John purchased the Sunbeam Bakery business.  Over the next 20 years or so he was known as the Breadman around the Yukon.  With a growing family the little house in Whiskey Flats was getting too small so in 1963 John bought a lot on Lowe St and built what still is the family’s home.  Not afraid of hard work John also ran the Civic Center Arena (renamed Jim Light Arena) for a number of years where he “was” the Zamboni, dragging a tank of hot water round and round the ice surface and offering roller skating at the Arena in the summer.  He was one of the founding members of the Jaycees service club which started the Keystone Cops and sponsored Miss Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous Queen contestant who went on to become Miss Canada.  He started Portabode Sales Ltd. selling mobile homes and partnered with a friend to construct LoBird Trailer Court.  (named after each partner’s wives, Lois and Birdie).

In 1980 John bought a small resort near Salmon Arm and moved there so Birdie could be closer to her parents and family.  However, the Yukon lured them back into the family home on Lowe St where they both stayed for many years much to the pleasure of their family who loved to visit with “Grumpa” and “Gramma Bird”.  John occupied his later years by building dog houses in the back yard (over 200).  He loved driving and made many trips up and down the Alaska Highway visiting family and friends, and picking up cedar wood for his dog houses.  When Birdie became ill and had to move to the Thomson Center (TC) he would faithfully drive to visit her 2-3 times a day.  He liked to chat with the staff at TC and bring them chocolate bars.  After a fall and hip fracture his driving days were over but he still visited Birdie until her passing in June 2021.  John was needing more help and moved into Birdie’s room at TC where he spent his final years.  He loved to sit by his window, watching the Yukon River flow by, the many birds that came to his feeder, and to look out over Golden Horn Mountain!

The family wishes to thank the wonderful Thomson Center staff for the loving care and support of our “Grumpa John” over the past few years.