JAMES (JIM) BOYD MCFETRIDGE
Posted: January 6th, 2020
May 2nd, 1943 to December 29th, 2019
With love & sadness, we share the passing of our Dad, Jim McFetridge at the age of 76 on December 29th, 2019 in Phoenix, AZ with his wife Jane, his three children, Laura, Andrew & Tyler, & his sister-in-law Susan at his side. To cherish his legacy, Dad leaves behind his brother Bill (Joan) McFetridge, his children Laura (Sean) Goldsmith, Andrew (Stacey) McFetridge, Tyler McFetridge, & grandchildren True, Akira, Autumn, Willow, Sam, Saoirse, Rylee, & Oakley.
Dad was born in Moose Jaw, SK & grew up in Calgary, AB. During & after attending William Aberhart High School in Calgary, he served others through the United & Methodist churches. He also volunteered, helped those in need, was a teacher, counselor, youth worker & project coordinator in Tennessee, Costa Rica, the Philippines, & Thailand. He achieved a B. A. in Sociology in 1965 from the University of Montana, a B. Ed. in 1967 from Acadia University, & a M. Ed. in Guidance Counseling from the University of Toronto in 1974. He married our Mom, Pranee McFetridge (Jitrukmun) in Thailand in 1968. He chose to build a life with his family in Medicine Hat, AB moving there in 1975 which brought all three of us kids so many opportunities and blessings. Thank you for that, Dad. Jim served at the Medicine Hat College mainly in the roles of Registrar & Director of Admissions from 1975 until 2003. Jim married Jane McFetridge (Giles) in 1987. He made a home with Jane in Medicine Hat for 17 years then in Phoenix, AZ in 2004 teaching English & coaching ladies’ soccer at Estrella Foothills High School until his final retirement in 2013.
We are proud of Dad for staying positive, fun, & strong during his three cancer diagnoses & ensuing treatments. He looked on these tough times as an adventure & as a fight. He also lived by & passed on to us the values of doing the right thing, helping & respecting those in need especially recent immigrants to Canada & all the “little guys”. Dad was funny, friendly, sports-minded, a lover of cowboy/western culture & history, a coach at heart, loved to have a good time, & was affectionately known as “Jumbled Jim”. He was also a teacher, historian, lecturer & entertainer all in one. Perhaps Dad’s most prominent quality was his youthful enthusiasm. This quality was felt by all who were fortunate enough to cross paths with him. It has been shared with us that his coaching of both youth soccer in Medicine Hat & ladies’ high school soccer in Phoenix, AZ created many fond memories and lessons learned for so many. Countless people over the years have shared with us that his caring service to students & athletes at the Medicine Hat College was instrumental to many in their lives & careers. Dad was also very proud of all of his grandchildren for their individual gifts and uniqueness.
As per Dad’s wishes, a Celebration of Life Service will take place at Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church in Medicine Hat on Saturday, January 18th at 2pm. We invite anyone who knew our Dad to please attend.
Condolences may be e-mailed to andrewmcfet@telus.net In Dad’s memory, we ask that you please give to cancer research, teach others something about the past to improve the future, & remember (like our Dad loved to do) at times, bend some rules & have FUN! We will always love & remember you, Dad.
My dearest condolences to you Jane and family. I always enjoyed my time with both you and Jim, I am saddened today.
So sorry to hear of the passing of your father, remembering how friendly he was and happy. you will always have wonderful memories of all the great times you had together.
Mr. McFetridge was a minor, yet significant, figure in my life. My first encounter was at Tilley School, when I was considering engineering as my next step to education. Prior to his recruiting visit, I had considered the University of Alberta as my only alternative.
Mr. McFetridge told me about the first-year engineering program at MHC which was transferable to the U of A. I can’t remember his exact sales pitch, but I did alter my life plan to attend MHC. Looking back, the transition from Tilley School directly to University of Alberta would have been too much for me.
Throughout the year I was there, Mr. McFetridge always greeted me–and most other students–in the hallways. He seemed to know all of us, keeping our names, faculties, and home towns straight. He was a definite people person, someone who could a person’s life for the better.
. . . could INFLUENCE a person’s life . . .
Sorry