John (Jack) Mearns Currie
1912 ~ 2011
John (Jack) Mearns Currie, 99, died peacefully Saturday, March 12, 2011 at Glengarry Hospital in Victoria following a brief illness.
Jack was born in 1912 in Fernie BC, and worked in his family’s lumberyard business while completing high school. He went on to UBC for a bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering, and subsequently to M.I.T. for advance studies.
In his remarkable professional career, Jack worked at BC mining operations in Anyox, Trail, Bralorne, Silverton, and Lardeau. Internationally he helped design mineral extraction facilities in Ecuador, and in Tanganyika where he was mill manager at Williamson’s Diamond Mine for many years. Returning to Canada, Jack was active in oil sands development before ‘retiring’ to consult and teach at BCIT.
Jack’s interests included wildlife photography, educational travel, and foreign languages which he studied well into his 80’s.
Jack is survived by his wife of 33 years, Kathryn Blanche (Gates) Currie, also born in Fernie. Other survivors include step-son William (Diane) Davidson in Kamloops, nephew Ian (Lois) Currie in Creston, and niece Joan McLauchlin in Calgary.
Pre-deceasing Jack was his first wife Della May (Sinclair) Currie who died in 1966, and his brothers William and Robert Currie.
Jack is remembered for his intellectual curiosity, exceptional work ethic, cheerful disposition, and pride in his two extended families.
A memorial service followed by reception will be held March 24, 2011 at 2:00 pm at First Memorial’s downtown chapel, 1155 Fort Street, Victoria, BC.