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Loving father and husband, James Gerard Kennedy, passed away peacefully on July 12, 2008 at the Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, after a short illness. He was a long time resident of Salmon Arm.

Jim was born in the Govan District of Glasgow, Scotland on September 17, 1928 to James and Ellen Kennedy.

He married Elizabeth Jamieson Smith on April 4, 1951 in Glasgow, Scotland. He graduated from Glasgow University and Jordanhill Teacher Training College shortly afterwards. Mr. Kennedy taught at St. Mungo’s Academy, Glasgow.

In 1967 he moved his family from Scotland to Wembley, Alberta. Then moved to Salmon Arm in 1968. For the next 30 years he taught French and English at Shuswap Junior Secondary and then at the Salmon Arm Senior High School. He was known as the only “Scottish French” teacher in the school. Jim loved soccer and played in Scotland, so when the opportunity arose to coach soccer at the high school level he jumped at it. Jim finished his career by teaching French at the Salmon Arm Campus of Okanagan College.

Jim enjoyed music (especially playing French songs in class), playing his banjo, and was a member of the Shuswap Singers Choir. He also enjoyed acting and played a role in the “Crucible” put on by the Shuswap Theatre Society.

Jim was an avid golfer and was a member for many years at the Salmon Arm Golf Course. He watched it grow from 9 holes to the championship 18-hole course it is today. His ultimate goal was to live beside a golf course and he accomplished that. His friendship with fellow golfer/teachers was very important to him, and he was known to enjoy their company every Friday at the Legion checking up on the latest sport pools.

Jim is survived by his wife Elizabeth “Betty” Kennedy of Salmon Arm, son Paul Kennedy (Jane) of Salmon Arm, son Gerard (Birgitta) of Stockholm, Sweden, and daughter Siobhan Irwin (Dave) of Lacombe, Alberta. He leaves behind his grandchildren Devon Kennedy, Jessica and Corey Irwin. He is also survived by loving sisters, Winnie Kidd, Marion Russell, and Eileen Gibson all of Glasgow, Scotland. Jim was preceded in death by his brother, Tony.

An open memorial service to celebrate Jim’s life will be held at the Salmon Arm Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion on July 17, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Memorial Hospice Home, #72 Whiteshield Cr., South Kamloops, B.C. V2E 2S9.

Thank you to the “special nurses” on the ICU floor at the Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, for their professionalism and compassion they showed during Jim’s illness.



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