John Douglas MCLEVIN

McLevin, John Douglas December 21, 1917 - June 13, 2008 Doug McLevin passed away peacefully, in his sleep, on Friday, June 13 with his loving wife, Ina and his only daughter, Margo and her husband, Les beside him. Doug was the eldest son of Jessie & William McLevin , a pioneering family from Woodstock, Ontario. He was born in a little log cabin in the farming community of Hermit Lake, Alberta. He attended elementary school at Hermit Lake, then completed his high school in Grande Pairie, Alberta. He boarded out during the week, but walked home every weekend, a distance of ten miles, rain, snow or sunshine, and back for school on Monday. On completing high school he helped his parents on the farm in the summer and worked in logging camps during the winter. When the Second World War was declared, he and his brother, Mack, took the train to Calgary, and enlisted in the Army there. Doug was first stationed at Truro, Nova Scotia before going overseas with the Royal Canadian Electrical Mechanical Engineers. He saw active duty in England, France, Italy, Holland and Germany. After the war he and partner, Gale Brinson went to Dawson Creek B.C. and opened up Dawson Creek Auto Electric on Alaska Avenue in 1948. Ina & Doug were married on February 23rd, 1949. In 1951 Gale wanted to sell, so Doug and his brother, Bruce bought him out and then they commenced to build a new shop, called “Mclevin Brothers” uptown on 102nd Avenue between Jack Ho Lem’ Dry Cleaners and the Dairy Queen which officially opened in August 1952. They sold the business to Dennis Gilbert and Blair Simcoe in 1975.After that, Doug & Ina built their retirement home on Pender Island, B.C. and for the next ten years they farmed their five quarters of land at Bear Canyon, Albertaa in the summer and spent the winters on beautiful Pender Island, where they lived for 30 years. They sold their farm land to neighbors, Dennis & Stan Carlstad in 2001. In March of 2006 Doug & Ina sold their property on Pender Island to their Grand daughter and husband, Kristin & Ross Briard and on April 1, 2006 they moved to Alexander Mackie Lodge, a lovely Senior Facility in Victoria, B.C. Doug leaves to mourn his passing his wife & soul mate, Ina of more than 59 years, His daughter, Margo Joan (Les) Griffiths, His Grandchildren Troy (Sarah Griffiths, Vicky Snowden (Ken), Kristin (Ross) Briard, Kathrin (Glenn) Langlois, Leslie (Terry) Carbone, and John Douglas McLevin, Great Grandchildren,Colby & Kirk Briard, Kira, Devin, Kennedy & Madison Langlois, Keegan, Rylan & Carys Griffiths and Nicholas & Alisha Snowden. Two Sister-in-Laws, Millie McLevin & Pat McLevin and many Nieces & Nephews. He was predeceased by his only son, Douglas Randall (Randy) January 31, 2003, Sister, Marion Cosman March 15, 1997, Brothers, Mack McLevin January 2, 2007 and Bruce McLevin on February 3, 2008. A Memorial Service will be held at the Langford Legion, Branch # 91 on June 20th, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. followed by a reception at Alexander Mackie Lodge.