Obituary of Gordon Catterson

CATTERSON; Gordon Nutt - Born April 4th 1933 and died March 12, 2014 at Bluewater Health, Sarnia. He is survived by his beloved wife Patricia (Watson), cherished daughters Joanna Catterson, Carolyn Catterson and husband Dale Hodges, adored grandchildren Amanda Norris and Owen and Kate Greening, brother Alistair Catterson and sister Jane "Jean" Catterson both of Ottawa, and nieces Joan Catterson of Ottawa and Margaret Stephens of Calgary. He was the youngest of 4 siblings and the son of William and Eliza Catterson (Gilmour), formerly of Barrhead, Scotland. Predeceased by his brother Manson in 1994. Gordon was born in Montreal and lived his early life in Farnham in Quebec's Eastern Townships. He worked for several years for the C.P.R. in Quebec, Vermont, Ontario and British Columbia as a telegrapher. He returned to school receiving a degree in Chemistry from Bishop's University in 1957 and a degree in Chemical Engineering from Queen's University in 1961. He worked for Dow Chemical Canada Inc. in Sarnia, Toronto and Montreal from 1961 until his retirement in 1993. He was a member of the President's Honour Club. Following retirement Gordon volunteered in many community organizations. He was the former Chair of the Arthritis Society, a past-President of the Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce, past Chair of the Sarnia General Hospital Commission, Treasurer of the Sarnia Riding Club board, a member of the Sarnia Community Foundation board and past President of Lambton Wildlife Inc. He was also actively involved in the establishment of the Howard Watson Nature Trail, was the longest serving editor of the LWI newsletter Earthways, acted as archivist for LWI and was Chair of the Environment Committee of LWI. Gordon also served on the board of several other community organizations. The family would like to thank our home nurse, Sandy Ferguson, Dr. Dostaler, Dr. Yoshida and all the staff on fifth floor, Palliative Care, Bluewater Health for all their kindness, compassion and excellent care during Gordon's illness. At Gordon's request there will be no visitation or memorial service. Cremation has taken place. Arrangements are entrusted to the McKENZIE & BLUNDY FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTRE, 519-344-3131. As an expression of sympathy, friends who wish may send memorial donations to Lambton Wildlife Inc., P.O. Box 681, Sarnia, Ontario N7T 7J7, (land acquisition fund) or the Sarnia Community Foundation, 110-560 Exmouth Street, Sarnia, Ontario N7T 5P5, (Catterson Family Fund-proceeds of which go to Bluewater Health and St. Joseph's Hospice). Messages of condolence & memories may be left at www.mckenzieblundy.com A tree will be planted in memory of Gordon Catterson in the McKenzie & Blundy Memorial Forest. Dedication service Sunday, September 21st, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at the Wawanosh Wetlands Conservation Area