James WITHERSPOON

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WITHERSPOON: James Walker Witherspoon entered into rest on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at the Carberry Personal Care Home at the age of 90 years. Born on November 9, 1925, Walker was the first of two sons born to William (Bill) and Pearle Witherspoon. He was born at home on the family farm in the Fairview District just north of Carberry. He grew up and worked with animals his entire life until retiring from farming at 70 years. In 1945 Walker purchased his own farm and decided to go on his own, from farming with his dad and brother. On October 23, 1948 he married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Fitzsimmons from the Summerville District north west of Carberry. On May 1, 1950 they started their family with a son Gary, and on September 5, 1952 a daughter Terri Dawn who only lived one day, then on June 9, 1954 their daughter Debra Leigh was born. In 1971 his son, Gary started farming in partnership with Walker and they farmed together till Walker’s retirement. Walker served on the local Fairview school board for 15 years. He was a member of the Agricultural Society as well as the Carberry Men’s curling club. Both he and Shirley were bowlers as well. They started with teammates Barry Hood, Earl Baron, and Clarence Downey at Neepawa and later in Carberry with the coming of the new Rec Centre. They took pride in their yard and through the years won prizes in the home grounds competitions. In the summer of 1996 they started to build a new home in Carberry and moved into town in May of 1997. They took this same pride with them and in no time had the new yard landscaped to look like it had been there for years. Due to deteriorating health both Walker and Shirley entered the Carberry Personal Care Home in 2014 and resided there till his passing. Walker was predeceased by his daughter Terri Dawn, his parents Bill and Pearle Witherspoon, brother Hunter and sister-in-law Yvonne, nephew Verne Witherspoon, parents-in-law Lon and Mabel Fitzsimmons and brother-in-law Lorne Sear. Walker is survived by his wife Shirley of 68 years; sister-in-law Beulah Sear; son Gary and Barb (Sytnyk); daughter Debra and Roger Liban; Grandchildren Sheri and Jeff Bieganski; Clint and Errin (Lintott) Witherspoon; Bart Witherspoon and Pam Robins and Melissa Liban. Great grandchildren Nevaeh Witherspoon, Lucas and Alayna Bieganski, Veronica and Oary Strain and several nieces and nephews and cousins. A celebration of Walker’s life took place on December 12, 2016 at the Carberry United Church with Rev. Peggy Reid officiating followed by a reception in the United Church Hall. Interment took place at the Carberry Cemetery.

As published in Brandon Sun on Dec 24, 2016