It is with great sadness that the family of Thomas Brian Hale announce his sudden but peaceful passing on Wednesday, Jan 1st, 2020 at Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie, Ontario. He was 95 years old.
After growing up in the beaches area of Toronto, Brian attended Malvern C.I. and then the University of Toronto. During the war years he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy and transferred to a unit of naval aviators under the Royal Navy. He returned to U of T, married his high school sweetheart, Marjorie, and moved to “Jalna” in the Clarkson area of what is now Mississauga. He embarked on a 30 year career in finance with the T. Eaton Co. in Toronto. Many happy years were spent with the family at the cottage on Lake Rosseau. He and Marjorie returned to Muskoka in retirement to run a small business where he continued to pursue passions for reading, history and carpentry. Eventually he became a dedicated and abiding caregiver to Marjorie and the years after her passing saw him discover latent talents for landscape painting and playing the piano. Truly a member of the “greatest generation”, the values he passed on and the way he lived his life will be with us forever.
He is predeceased by his wife Marjorie (nee Farnworth) of 57 years and survived by his loving children Nancy (Greg) and Michael (Annie) and three grandchildren, Jonathan (Keltie), Megan (Jeremy) and James, as well as a great- grandchild, Jacob. He will be lovingly remembered by Pascale (James), David (Stephanie) and Katherine (Rick) and greatly missed by Marcus, Sophie, Frank and Elyse.
A family funeral was held Sunday, Jan 5th at the Steckley-Gooderham Funeral Home in Barrie. Interment to follow in the spring. His family are very appreciative of the medical and spiritual care he received from the staff at the IOOF in Barrie. Donations in memory of Brian can be made online to his favorite charity The Salvation Army at www.salvationarmy.ca