Obituaries

JAMES (Jim) STEWART VAIL, 69, born November 9th, 1952 at Halifax, Nova Scotia. Jim passed away peacefully on Saturday February 5th at the Halifax Infirmary.

Jim was pre-deceased by his father, Gilbert (Bert) F. Vail; mother Pauline (Peggy) M. Vail (nee Tully) and his elder sister Pauline F. Vail. Jim is survived by two elder brothers; Greg G. Vail of Bedford, Nova Scotia, Dr. Matthew A. Vail (wife Jeanne) of Dublin, Ohio and a younger brother, Richard E. Vail of Dartmouth, N. S., and several nieces and nephews.

Jim attended Halifax West High School and worked for several years with Standard Paving in Halifax, and Sears Canada in Halifax before retiring.

Jim loved the outdoors, he was happiest hiking in the woods, checking out long lost historic sites. Jim collected numerous relics, and bottles, and miscellaneous articles from these sites that he would write descriptions for, catalogue, and save in his small apartment. In season, Jim would search out his favourite, wild cranberry bogs, load up with berries, then he would spend days baking cranberry pastries for friends and family. His homemade meat pies were also loved by many friends. Genealogy was his passion. He would research, write to and talk to anyone and everyone about his Family Tree, asking about his relatives and ancestry. This search was easy for Jim, as he “never met a stranger”, just like his mother. Jim filled many binders with pictures, stories, notes and facts about his/our family tree. It was always an Adventure, taking Jim anywhere, like we were all related somewhere. Jim was also a licensed Nova Scotia Scuba Diver. He would escort Divers on dives of various ship wrecks in the Halifax area, Portuguese Cove in particular. Jim had various relics from the Passenger Ship Humboult which sank at Halifax in the mid 1800s. Jim would typically look for relics on these dives and again write up, catalogue and save.

Jim spent time, year after year hiking and paddling in the Chain Lakes, and Birch Cove Lake areas. He had an inflatable, rubber raft that he would carry in a pack sack to these areas, to explore, and adventure. His favourite was Susies Lake. Jim also was a coin collector and had a story about each coin that he saved. Again he wrote notes, catalogued and saved in many various binders.

Jim loved life, a remembrance service will be held for brother Jim, by immediate family at a later date.

Donations may be made in his name to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or any other Charity of your choice.