James (Jim) Layton Drinnan of Okotoks passed away on January 16,
2025, at age 69.
Jim deeply loved his family and spending time at home with them,
entertaining with his wife Joyce, enjoying great food and banter around
the table. Known as JD to many of his friends, he was a deep thinker and
a voracious reader with a quick wit. Camping in Kananaskis & Cypress
Hills, fly fishing the Highwood and Flathead rivers, hobbyist of trains,
planes and automobiles, Jim had a variety of interests that captivated
him, and he gained an encyclopedic knowledge of them.
Jim’s career included positions with The City of Calgary, EBA Engineering
and the Transportation department of the Foothills School Division where
he so much enjoyed the community minded people who reminded him
daily; it really does take a village to raise a child. Jim volunteered with the
Okotoks Fire Department in the 1980’s & 90’s thriving in the comradery
of fellow firefighters.
Born in Calgary and raised in the community of Bowness, he was a
country boy at heart, spending much of his youth at the ‘Farm’ at Delacour,
Alberta owned by his grandparents (Layton & Alice Gardner). Left to miss
Jim dearly is his wife Joyce O’Neill, daughter Annie Drinnan, daughter in
law Kayleigh Nielson, sister Connie Hollenbeck, niece Sarah Hollenbeck,
cousin Allison McLean and extended family. Sadly, predeceased by his
son Byran Drinnan, mother Marilyn Drinnan, father Ron Drinnan (Doris),
uncle Lon Gardner (Lorraine), aunt Doreen McLean.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 1st at 2 p.m. at the
Crystal Ridge Golf Course Clubhouse on Crystal Green Lane in Okotoks.
All are welcome. Donations to the Prostate Cancer Centre, Calgary or
Trout Unlimited are appreciated.
Jim received compassionate and excellent care and his family would
like to thank the Emergency, Unit 93 & Palliative Care at the Rockyview
Hospital, Okotoks Rural Home Care & Urgent Care, Dr. Richard Lee Ying
and Dr. Bryan Donnelly.
One of Jim’s favorite quotes by Norman Maclean (A River Runs Through It):
Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.
