NESS, Thomas Boyd
of Ardrossan, Alta.
April 12, 1949 – June 7, 2012
It is with very heavy hearts that we announce that our beloved Tom died suddenly of a heart attack on Thursday evening, June 7th.
Tom was born in Pretoria, South Africa, second son of Scottish parents, Alexander and Mary Ness.
The family moved to Jersey in the Channel Islands where his parents purchased a hotel. Tom spent many summers working in the hotel industry on his beloved island of Jersey and chose a career in the hotel industry. At Bournemouth Technical College he completed a three-year program in Hotel Management & Catering. After graduation Tom became Assistant Manager at the Beaufort Hotel where he quickly proved himself earning a promotion to manager of a hotel in Mahe, Seychelles Islands.
Tom loved to travel and drive, his greatest adventure at that time was driving across the African continent from Mombasa, Kenya to Durbin, South Africa.
Tom moved to Canada in 1981 and resided in Penticton, Calgary, Richmond and finally Ardrossan, Alberta. Since arriving in Canada, Tom’s careers have included Realtor, Restaurant Manager and Computer Specialist. Tom was passionate about golf, motor sports, soccer (coaching and playing), gardening, and, EVERYTHING!
Tom had a zest for life; for travel; for adventure; but, most of all, for family. He was the most enthusiastic attendee at any family gathering. Tom was loving and generous, had a keen sense of humour and was always available to help friends, family, and strangers.
Tom was a larger than life presence who filled everyone’s lives with joy, energy and enthusiasm. He was an attentive, helpful and caring husband, and a very hands-on, very involved dad and granddad. Tom was an amazing host and chef in the home and took everything in stride even when the house was bursting at the seams. There was no job too complicated, too big or too small for Tom. He was a great handyman, the best! (says his mother-in-law).
Tom knew and loved the Lord and was devoted to serving in his home church having been a deacon, an usher, and organizer of events for men as well as for children.
Tom is predeceased by his parents, Mary and Alex Ness and sister, Rosemary. He is survived by his brother, Charlie Ness; loving wife Lisa (nee Giblak); their children David and Sarah Ness; her children Christopher and Matthew Patterson; his children Jason and Christie Ness and their mother Suzanne. He is also survived by a large extended family.
Our hearts are filled with thankfulness for: a caring motorist who stopped to give assistance, the emergency personnel from ambulance, fire and police, and the hospital staff of Fort Saskatchewan Health Centre. We are incredibly blessed to have so many loving and caring friends including the pastoral staff of the Fort Saskatchewan Alliance, our church home.
Funeral Service for Tom was held on June 13, 2012 at Fort Saskatchewan Alliance Church, Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.; Graveside Service and Committal, on June 15, 2012, in Penticton, B.C.
In lieu of flowers, a fund has been established for the care of the dependent children.
John 11:25, 26 “Jesus said unto her, “I am the resurrection and the Life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believeth thou this?”