John Douglas “Jack” Paton

John Douglas “Jack” Paton, aged 75 years of Central Butte, SK, passed away on Friday, October 23rd, 2015.  He was born in Central Butte, SK on June 4th, 1940 to Joe and Doris Paton, a little brother for Gwen.  The family lived in the Lawson area, moving to Moose Jaw when his dad Joe took sick with polio.  They returned to the farm at Lawson in 1954.  Jack completed his schooling at Central Butte in 1958.  He always had a love of animals and played sports like hockey, football and baseball.  As a young man, on a dare, Jack asked the new school teacher in Lawson on a date.  Against advice from community members, Miss Gloria Calder not only went on a date, but also married him.  Jack and Gloria were married on August 22nd, 1961 in Kyle, SK.  This marriage resulted in the births of their two children, Derek Glenn on May 20th, 1962 and Denise Aileen on July 20th, 1964.  And so began his life as a family man.  Jack’s career with the Co-op took them to Maple Creek, SK, Consul, SK, and Vanguard, SK.  In 1967, the family returned to Lawson to start and operate a backhoe and excavating business.  This took Jack too many places and resulted in him digging many water and sewer lines, basements, and graves in the area.  Gloria returned to teaching for a few more years in Lawson and Central Butte.  He also started farming again, buying the Francis Strain farm; he and Gloria raised pigs and chickens there.  In 1972, the family bought and moved to the Norman Woodburn farm just a half mile west.  Being on the road and away from the family, Jack decided to give up the backhoe business.  He and Gloria continued farming, raising cattle, chickens, turkeys, and pigs.  They had a very plentiful garden with lots of strawberries, raspberries, and apples.  Denise married Tim Sawers in 1988 and Derek married Candace Wall in 1990.  These marriages resulted in the births of their grandchildren: Kayla and Jordan Sawers, and Mandi and Ashley Paton.  To say that Jack was proud of his grandchildren is an understatement.  Jack always took pride in following the grandchildren’s activities.  Sadly, Gloria passed away on November 25th, 2001.  Jack continued to farm and spent many hours following the grandkids activities like hockey, soccer, baseball, curling, and music festivals.  Jack was married to Freida Trowbridge for a while.  At this time, he retired from farming and they bought a house in Central Butte.  Jack and Freida have since parted ways.  Jack pursued some volunteerism at places like the rink, Regency Manor, and Iver Main Place.  He was always looking for a ball game in the spring and a hockey game in the winter.  Jack was an active community member serving on many committees like the Central Butte Frontiersmen, the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool Board as a treasurer in Lawson, the Central Butte Co-op Board, the Central Butte Housing Authority, the Curling Club, and a great supporter of the NDP.  He was an avid curler for many years with many people and curled in many bonspiels.  Jack’s passion for his grandkids kept him busy and when he was home, he was at the rink watching hockey, curling, or both.  In his retirement he took up woodworking, acquiring old furniture and refinishing it.  He enjoyed his garden, sharing the produce and flowers with Iver Main Place, Regency Manor, and anyone else who wanted or needed them.  In April 2014, Jack was diagnosed with Frontal Lobe Vascular Dementia.  He moved to Iver Main Place in Central Butte in December 2014 and then to Cypress House in Swift Current in June 2015, where he resided until his passing.  He was predeceased by his, wife Gloria (Calder) Paton; parents, Joe and Doris (Philpott) Paton; mother-in-law, Esther Smith-Reichelt; 3 fathers-in-law; brothers-in-law: Ken Calder, Winston Calder and Herb Jensen; sisters-in-law, Sandra Veason and Shirley Calder; as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.  Jack is survived by his children: Derek (Candace) Paton and Denise (Tim) Sawers, grandchildren: Kayla and Jordan Sawers, Mandi (Mitch) and Ashley Paton; sister, Gwen Macklin; as well as many brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.  The Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, October 28th, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. in the Riverhurst Community Hall.  Dave Foley will officiate and interment will take place in Central Butte Cemetery.  Flowers are gratefully declined.  As an expression of sympathy, donations in Jack’s name may be made to Iver Main Place, Box 550, Central Butte, SK S0H 0T0, Regency Manor, PO Box 40, Central Butte, SK S0H 0T0 or the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan, 301 – 2550–12th Ave, Regina, SK S4P 3X1.  Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane.  Todd Sjoberg, Funeral Director 306-693-4550