Honoured by Joan Comrie and family
Douglas Murray Comrie was born in Severn Bridge, Ontario, in 1926, the youngest of seven children, sister’s Ida, Mona, Gwen, Effie, Norma, and brother Gordon (Joe).
He grew up in this area and loved the lakes and forests, and the quiet beauty of the countryside. He spoke often of walking to Orillia to play hockey in the winters, and going in the summers for ice cream. As a teenager Doug worked in the boiler room of the RMS Seqwun on the Muskoka Lakes, (oldest operating steam driven vessel in North America).
Doug served in the Canadian Navy in WWII, in the engine room of a corvette, “the Glace Bay”, sailing the North Atlantic convoy route. After the war he joined the RCMP and served in rural Nova Scoatia, during which time he met his wife-to-be Joan. They were married in 1952 at Mahone Bay, N.S.
Doug’s career in the Royal Canadian Air Force (Military Police) began that year, with a posting to Halifax. A year later he began his wonderful family with the birth of Charlotte, followed by Laurie. After four years the family was transferred to Winnipeg, and four years later another transfer to Bagotville. The family expanded in Quebec with the births of Mike, then Jane, two more happy occasions.
Two more transfers, one to Mooseonee for two and a half years, and then North Bay. While in Moosonee Doug enjoyed fishing, the winter carnivals, and the fact that there was rail access only. He loved North Bay, although it was just barely far enough north for Doug. He worked at the Bomarc base, SAGE, and the main gate (three transfers) until his retirement in 1978.
Doug was always busy, a hard worker, and rarely took time off, unless it was to spend time with his family or his many friends. He enjoyed golf, boating, biking and cross-country skiing and hockey. He built a family cottage at LeGrou Lake, “lake access only”.
Throughout the years his other projects included part-time jobs at the Humane Society, Royal Canadian Legion, (Branch 599), St. Joseph’s hospital and the Sheriff’s office. He was always generous with his time and effort, and was willing to help anyone in need. He enjoyed his regular visits to the coffee shops where his friends and strangers alike enjoyed his friendly, easy-going company.
Doug, with a lot of help from his wife Joan, made sure the children knew right from wrong, and got them all started on the right track to succeed as happy and productive adults.