Obituary of John McPherson Scott
Passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 17, 2023. He was predeceased by his wife Joan, his son Gordon and his three siblings, Ross, Allan and Doris Scott.
Born May 10, 1927 in Hollywood, California, he grew up in Toronto and earned his language degree from the University of Toronto’s Victoria College. His love of adventure and hockey took him overseas to play in Europe and the British Isles. He played for Team Canada in the 1954 World Championships in Stockholm, Sweden. Initially a surveyor for Government airports (so he could play hockey in the winter), he married Joan Gibbons in 1955 and together they settled in Port Perry. He taught languages at Port Perry High School for 27 years and raised four children, Sandra, Gordon, John and Robert, three of whom went on to become teachers.
He eagerly retired to a healthy life of global travel, the arts, hiking, climbing, tennis, skiing, canoeing and whatever else got him outdoors. He passed on his passion for nature and the outdoors to his children and his nine grandchildren: Taylor, Sarah and Katheryn Churchill (Sandy and John), Geoffrey and Sophie Scott (Gordon and Shirley) Alexandra, Hailey and Evan Scott (John and Shelley) and Nathan and Hannah Scott (Robert and Dana). He also got to hold his two adored great-grandchildren, Theo and Phoebe Spohn.
Locally, he was one of the founders of the Port Perry Tennis Club, a member of the Scugog Sports Hall of Fame, and he loved to paddle in the “Canoe the Nonquon”, as well as hike and ski in the Durham Forest with dogs, family and friends.
The family wishes to thank the team at West Shore Village Retirement Living for their outstanding care and affection for him, especially in his last days.
John’s family will receive friends at the WAGG FUNERAL HOME, 216 Queen Street, In Port Perry (905-985-2171) on Friday, January 19th from 6 – 8 p.m. A Service to celebrate his life will be held on Saturday, January 20th at 2 p.m. followed by light snacks and refreshments in the Heritage Room of the funeral home.
If desired, memorial donations may be kindly made to the Nimsdai Foundation’s Big Mountain Clean Up, which – true to John’s love of hiking and the environment – works to combat the global climate crisis by cleaning up waste in Big Mountain communities such as Nepal, where John himself climbed. Memories, photos and condolences may be shared at www.waggfuneralhome.com
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