Obituary of Patricia Buck

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Patricia Ann Buck (nee Gourlay). Pat was born May 23, 1947 to Clara Georgina Gourlay (nee Casey) and John Gourlay in Wainfleet Twp., Ontario. Her father, John passed away in 1951 and her mother, as single parent raised her in Alliston, Ontario. Clara was a Public Health nurse and in Grade 4, Pat met her life-long friend, Nada Barraclough. Pat attended university then started her career by teaching grade school in inner city Toronto. Pat met her husband of 50 years, Thomas Harold Buck, on a University of Toronto Outing Club canoe trip in May 1969. They were married December 28, 1970 and moved to New Liskeard. Her first teaching job, locally, was at Haileybury Public School teaching kindergarten. Over her career she taught every grade from kindergarten to Grade 13 including Adult and Special Education. She taught at a number of schools including Haileybury Public School, Haileybury High School, New Liskeard High School/Timiskaming District Secondary School and Englehart High School. Tom and Pat had four children Sean (Heather), Maureen (Dave Stick), Paul (Kristin), Patrick (Sandy) and she was ‘Nana’ to six grandchildren Lucas, Brodie, Kacee, Deagan, Freya and Iris. She was passionate about her hobbies. She loved walking, hiking, cross country-skiing, downhill skiing, canoeing, kayaking and genealogy. She was a Toasist Tai Chi instructor and was involved at the top of the Fung Loy Kok provincial organization. Most recently she has become an accomplished knitter and enjoyed the knitting circle at the Match Factory. Tom and Pat led canoe trips for Camp Lorian, Temagami. They spent a summer canoeing in Quetico and did many canoe trips on the Lady Evelyn River system and Pat sea kayaked in the Pacific Ocean at Haida Gwaii. Pat loved to travel especially to Whistler, Banff and Canmore to visit her children and grandchildren. Pat also found time to explore Europe, Ecuador, Newfoundland, the Caribbean and most recently New Zealand. She was passionate about the environment long before global warming was a catch phrase. Her children took sandwiches to school in recycled milk bags. She and her husband always had a vegetable garden. She was great friend who would quietly discern what someone needed and make it happen without a fuss. Pat has been cremated. We hope to honour Pat with ‘Pat approved’ gatherings in the future. The picture we have chosen for Pat was taken at the Mallard Lounge, Fairmont Chateau Whistler. If desired donations in Pat's memory may be made to the Temiskaming Hospital Palliative Care.