In the past few months the content of this blog has altered slightly; first with the obituary, life story and condolences received for my mother Jean ACTON and now with the same for my husband John MOFFAT. However, their inclusion in the blog is apt – the title of the blog “Remembering our ancestors whose stories have been lost or forgotten” still applies. These individuals, although deceased within the last year, ARE the ancestors of the young members of their families. Although their physical flame has been extinguished, it is important that their story live on and not be forgotten.

Below is the obituary of John MOFFAT, his life story and photographs will be added, condolences received have been posted July 17, 2014. If you would like to send a message to the family, or have memories or stories of Jack you’d like to share, please LEAVE A COMMENT or click here to use the email address theirownstories@gmail.com. With the exception of the family names noted in the below in standard obituary format, no names of living people will be used to protect their privacy.

Please keep checking this space, other photos and stories will be added – there is NO deadline.

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 John (‘Jack’) Brown MOFFAT, 31 March 31, 1942 – 28 June 2014

Jack died peacefully, after a brief illness, 28 June 2014 in Victoria, British Columbia. Born in Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire, Scotland on 31 March 1942 to Thomas Brown Moffat, coal miner, and his wife Catherine Wilson Brown, Jack is survived in Canada by his wife Patricia Acton, daughter Fiona (Paulo) Moffat, son Andrew, granddaughter Brianna Novak, sister Dorothy (Derek) Rowan, niece Lesley (Henk) Rowan and stepfamily Daniel, Angie, Thomas and Samuel Schick. In Scotland Jack is survived by his brother William (Gwen) and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and extended family; he was predeceased by his sisters and brothers-in-law Janet (William) Brown and Mary (David) Wylie; also brothers Andrew and Thomas.

Trained as a millwright, Jack initially followed his ancestors’ calling and worked in the Scottish coal mines (1957-1962, 1970-1977), however his sense of adventure took him round the globe, first as a Marine Engineer with Shell Tankers Ltd. (1962-1964, 1968-1969), and then as an emigrant to Australia as a ‘10 pound pom’. While in Australia (1966-1968) he explored and circumnavigated the country in an old Holden car, and worked for several major mining companies. Back in Scotland he worked (1969-1970) as a steel erector of factories and then in an explosives factory (1977-1980). He immigrated to Ft. McMurray, Alberta, Canada and worked for Syncrude Canada (1980-1999) after which he was employed by the Municipality of Wood Buffalo until his retirement and move to Victoria in 2005.

In retirement Jack continued to travel the globe, and made several trips ‘home’ to Scotland to visit family and research his ancestors. Jack had a lifelong interest in genealogy and Scottish history; as well as his own ancestors he conducted research for many friends and was always ready to show others how to research their roots. In lieu of flowers a donation to the Victoria Genealogical Society (www.VictoriaGS.org) may be made so that others can continue to learn how to research their family history.

No funeral service will be held, a wake will be announced at a future date.