A resident of Cardinal for the past 23 years, Ian McGillis passed away peacefully at the Brockville General Hospital on Saturday, January 17, 2015, age 53.
Ian was born in Cornwall, on November 27, 1961, to his parents Doug and Joan McGillis (nee McGuire). He grew up in Morrisburg where he attended Morrisburg Public School and later Seaway District High School.
Ian was a long-time resident and third generation owner of McGillis Home Hardware in Morrisburg. After selling his Morrisburg business in June of 2011, Ian worked for Home Hardware in Winchester, until February of 2013.
He continued on to work at the Home Hardware Building Centre in Brockville, where he was highly regarded by his co-workers and where he made many friends. He worked at the Building Centre until he became too ill this past summer.
As a kid, Ian enjoyed playing hockey in the winter. In the summer, he couldn’t wait for the Sunday afternoon boat rides with his family, when his dad would put him on his lap and let him drive the boat.
If they weren’t on their way to Brockville to go camping with the Stevens and Thom families, it was a nice cruise over to “A Bay” for groceries and maybe an ice cream if he got lucky.
As Ian got older, he enjoyed family gatherings. Whether it be a birthday or a holiday, he would always be up to putting on his Sunday best to greet the family at the door. Even if he wasn’t feeling up to it….his mother Joan would make sure he was ready to go for the special day ahead.
Ian was involved in many sporting activities whether it be playing hockey as a young boy or playing softball as a young adult in the Morrisburg Mixed League.
If Ian wasn’t playing a sport he was watching them and cheering on his favourite teams. If not the Montreal Canadiens at home or at the Bell Centre, it was a trip to the Skydome to watch the Toronto Blue Jays with Nancy and the grandchildren all the way up to the final games this season to share a weekend with her and their two oldest grandchildren Brock and Joshua.
There were special times watching the Montreal Alouettes, when he and his best friend Craig Harriman shared seasons tickets for six unforgettable seasons.
Ian was a devoted family man. He spent countless hours taking in his grandchildren’s golf, curling, baseball and 4H shows. He was their biggest fan on the sidelines throughout the years.
Ian’s true passion of course was the game of curling. He made many contributions to the Morrisburg Curling Club where he started curling, was a member for many years and eventually became club president.
Ian was also a member of the Brockville Golf and Curling Club, where over the years he made many friends.
When not playing, he and Nancy would take vacations across Canada to many curling events whether it be to The Brier or the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
Ian loved the game of curling so much that he volunteered countless hours to the game, to eventually make his way into the Ontario Curling Association (OCA).
Here he started on the Board of Directors as a rules chairperson. He served as President of the OCA from 2013-2014 and become past president from 2014 until his passing in January 2015. He was presented a lifetime honorary membership by the OCA in December 2014.
In Ian’s short life, he was highly regarded and respected by his many friends and acquaintances on and off the ice.
Ian is survived by his loving companion Nancy Skakum (nee Bennett); his stepchildren Michelle Skakum (Larry Mastine) of Danville, P.Q., Steacy Skakum (Kevin Laming) of Cardinal and Nicole Goodenough (Gregg Moulton) of Boucks Hill; his grandchildren Brock, Joshua, Michaela, Meghan, Justin, Jessica and Jason; his sister Ann Miller (Jeff) of Kemptville.
He will be sadly missed by his nieces Laura and Emma and his nephew Norman. He will be fondly remembered by his aunt Norma McGuire of Etobicoke and his cousins Susan, Elizabeth and Bryan.
He was predeceased by his parents Doug and Joan McGillis.
Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Williamsburg, on Thursday, January 22nd from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral service was held at the funeral home on Friday, January 23rd at 11 a.m., with Rev. Feras Chamas officiating.
Interment of cremated remains will be at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Morrisburg.
Pallbearers were Craig Harriman, Allan Brunt, Scott Shaw and Gord Gark.
Donations to the Morrisburg Curling Club or Kingston Cancer Centre would be gratefully acknowledged by the family. Online condolences may be made at marsdenmclaughlin.com.
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