James John Pellatt, 1923-2017. After a long and full life growing up, farming and raising a family in the Bangor and Esterhazy area, Jim passed on August 4 at the North Battleford River Heights Lodge. Predeceased by his wife Melba in 2008, Jim leaves behind his children Idella Barr (Bill Fitzsimmons), Dorothy Wengler (Gerd), Audrey Haddad (Steve), Edwin Pellatt (Deanna), Nancy Pellatt and Heather Maguire (Paul), his nieces, nephews, fourteen grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, and lifelong friends Bud and Iris Clark. Funeral service will be held Wednesday August 9 at St Andrew’s United Church in Esterhazy, with internment to follow at the Bangor Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations are gratefully accepted to the Alzheimers’s or Heart and Stroke Foundations. Arrangements have been entrusted to Eternal Memories Funeral Services in North Battleford. 306.445.7570.

James was the youngest son of Bertha and Edwin Pellatt who farmed in Bangor, Saskatchewan. James has been predeceased by his four siblings: Nelson, Madge (Macarthy), Edwin (Ned), and Ruth (Roberts).

Jim left farming life behind him briefly as a young man to work in the nickel mines of northern Ontario. He returned to Saskatchewan to marry N. Melba Brooks in 1952. They lived for a short period of time in Prince Rupert where Jim worked with CN as a brakeman. They returned to the Bangor community to farm and to eventually raise six children: Idella, Dorothy, Audrey, Edwin, Nancy, and Heather. Jim and Melba were a very progressive couple for the times. As Jim was primarily a grain farmer, he had free time during the winter months to help with household chores while Melba was teaching and taking university classes. He became a very good cook and made a passable effort at laundry and house cleaning! Needless to say, spring seeding and fall harvest were not easy months for either.

In his late fifties, Jim suffered serious heart problems and on the advice of his physician, quit farming and moved to Esterhazy where Melba was still teaching. Thus began a new phase or perhaps the better choice of words would be, obsession ... golfing. The winter months were filled with playing pool, bowling, skiing, and curling.

Upon Melba's retirement, Jim and Melba became grandparents in earnest. They traveled through out the province and to Edmonton visiting grandchildren or hosting grandchildren for summer swimming lessons. In between visits, they managed some long awaited travel to Alaska, the Maritimes, Newfoundland, and Mexico.

In 2008, Jim lost his beloved Melba but continued to live in Esterhazy supported by his golfing community, his wonderful Rupert street neighbors, and his family. Losing his independence to Alzheimer's disease at age 89, he moved to Edmonton to live with his daughter Nancy. He received the best of care and enjoyed the happy, busy household provided by Nancy's four sons. The disease progressed and Jim moved to Harwood Manor, then River Heights Lodge in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Alzheimer's disease stole his ability to read his murder mysteries and to follow television programs, but not his love of music. He continued to enjoy music and sing songs to the very end of his life. Throughout all the difficulties associated with his disease, he remained the same charming and gentle man. He will be missed by his children, his14 grandchildren, and was always truly delighted by the arrival of his 11 great grandchildren.

Children often ask interesting questions of adults which can be insightful. Upon being asked who he thought was the happiest person in his family, he replied with out hesitation, he was. He had six happy and healthy children and that was the best you could ask of life. May he enjoy peace and several more "holes in one".

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