James "Jim" Alvoy Watt

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, and papa, Jim Watt on Saturday, March 15, 2025. His wife of 54 years was by his side when he was welcomed into the arms of his Heavenly Father.

Jim was born April 14, 1952, in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan to Stanley and Hilda Watt. He was the oldest of eight children. His family travelled around a lot due to his father’s career as a carpenter. They moved the family to where there was work. In early 1953 they moved from Prince Albert to Gold Fields, Saskatchewan. Then in 1954 they moved to Uranium City, Saskatchewan, and then on to Kamloops in 1957, and finally settled in Watson Lake in 1958.

Growing up in Watson Lake and being the oldest, Jim was always called upon to help his mom with household duties. He would take his red wagon and a list of groceries and walked to the local grocery store. The owners, Rudy and Janet Couture would help Jim load up his wagon. Rudy would have Jim sign for the groceries and allow the family to use credit until their next payday. Jim's dad sometimes doing work for the store to pay off the grocery debt. In 1965, the family moved to British Columbia where they lived in several cities: Cantung, Prince George, Terrace and Kamloops. The family finally found their way back to the Yukon and settled in Whitehorse.

During his teenage years, Jim attended Christ the King and F.H. Collins High School in Whitehorse and was on several sports teams: basketball, baseball and hockey. He also enjoyed track and field. Jim was a talented athlete and was invited to travel to Halifax, Nova Scotia to compete in the 1969 Summer Games.

At the age of 18, and immediately out of High School Jim went to work at New Imperial Mines in Whitehorse as a heavy equipment operator.

In 1970 he met the love of his life, Cindy Evans during the Polar games in Whitehorse at a Valentine's Day dance. Cindy had travelled to Whitehorse with her high school volleyball team from Fairbanks, Alaska. They quickly fell in love and were married 6 months later on August 7, 1970. They started their family shortly after and had their first daughter, April in 1973. Their second daughter Melanie was born 21 months later in 1974 in Whitehorse. Jim accepted a position with WhitePass and Yukon Route as a freight dispatcher. Cindy also started working at WhitePass as a manifest clerk where they worked along side each other. Over the years, Jim advanced his career and became a Regional Manager of various trucking firms, including Kleysen Transport.

Jim and Cindy also found themselves moving to where there was work. They moved from Whitehorse to Edmonton, then Saskatoon and on to Winnipeg. They lived in Winnipeg for several years where the girls primarily grew up. Then in 1989 they moved to Calgary where they set their permanent family roots. Together they created a stable meaningful life, creating memories and building their legacy.

Later in life, Jim made a shift in his career and went back to being a heavy equipment operator. This allowed him to return to a job he thoroughly enjoyed. After a few years of being away from home, he convinced his wife to learn to operate heavy equipment so they could once again work alongside each other.

Jim was a proud family man. Some of his greatest joys were spending time with his family and friends.

Jim was affectionately known as Papa by his four grandchildren: 2 girls (Taylor and Shaelyn) and 2 boys (Owen and Dylan). He was so proud of each grandchild with their accomplishments in their journeys.

Jim had strong values and did everything with dedication, honesty and integrity. He was known for his humour, ongoing teasing and camaraderie. Jim was a big guy with a soft heart. His friends often referred to him as “Big Jim”. He made lifelong friends along the way, Ken and Sandra Mason, Ernie and Shirley Summers, Wilf and Tracy McKee and Ray and Lou Hall, that made an impact in his life and the lives of his family. He cherished their friendship and always spoke highly of them in his stories. Jim was well liked by everyone and often liked to tease those who were close to him. And those who knew him well knew he was a storyteller with great detail.

Jim will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 54 years, Cynthia (Cindy) and their children, April (Colin) Corasiniti and Melanie (Sean) Cory, and grandchildren Taylor, Shaelyn, Owen and Dylan. Jim was predeceased by his parents Stanley and Hilda Watt, his sisters Sandra Watt, Karen Robilliard, Claudia Hunter, and his brother Michael Watt.

Funeral service will be held at the South Calgary Funeral Centre at 12700 Macleod Trail S.E. in Calgary, Alberta on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at 11:00am.

The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks and deepest gratitude to Intercare Chinook Hospice nurses for their compassion, empathy and tender care in providing comfort for Jim during his stay.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer fund at https://fundraisemyway.cancer.ca/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.personalCampaign&participantID=13136