After a courageous battle against several maladies, James Edward Bryant died in hospital at Comox, BC, in the morning of August 10, 2017 - one day prior to his 79th birthday. The family is extremely grateful to the team of health care workers who helped him with his fight.
Jim was born in Calgary and raised in Jumping Pound, Lethbridge, Diamond City, and a farm at Bingley - near Rocky Mountain House. After graduating from high school, Jim wanted to explore new horizons, so after brief stints with highways and oil exploration, he decided to enlist with the RCAF in 1958.
Over his career with the Armed Forces, Jim was stationed at St. Jean, PQ, Gimli, MB, Alymer, Winnipeg, Trenton, ON, 2F-Wing (Grostenquin), France (421 Sqn), Cold Lake, AB, and Comox, BC (442 Sqn). He was also deployed on a UNEF peace-keeping mission in Egypt (116 ATU). The aircraft he worked on included the: Sabre, Shooting Star, Starfighter, Hornet, Voodoo, Dakota, Labrador, and Buffalo. After 24 years, Jim retired as sergeant and safety systems technician.
While stationed in France overseas, Jim found and married his love, Antoinette, in 1963. Last March, they celebrated their 54th anniversary.
Many folks will remember Jim doing yard maintenance and home renovations with his little dog Scamp or serving ice cream at RJ's in the Comox Mall. Jim enjoyed hunting, fishing, curling, baseball, golfing, and hockey. Later, his interests focused more on gardening, woodworking and collecting coins and stamps. Jim played darts and crib at the Royal Canadian Legion and was a congregant of Christ the King Church.
Jim is survived by his wife Marie Antoinette, his children Christian, Chantal, and Patrick, his grandchildren Miranda, Julie, Nathan, Michael, Danielle, James, Emily and Tanner (hon), his great-grandchildren Brooklyn, Miley, Hudson, Abbey, Ava, Annabelle, Hanna, plus another one on the way, his mother Isabel, and his siblings Doreen, Irene, Albert, and Percy.
Jim's relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral service in Christ the King Church on Friday, August 18, at 11:00 am followed by a reception downstairs. Inurnment will take place at 2:00 pm at Courtenay Cemetery.
Jim had a very kind heart, quick wit, and contagious laugh; and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Flowers gratefully declined. Jim's family asks that you help those in need by donating to the charity of your choice.
"The birds that used to torment the sky
The birds that we so enjoyed to fly...
...may they rest in peace."
(421 Sqn's "An Ode to the Sabre")