Jon Ralph Mowbray

It is with sadness that the family of Jon Ralph Mowbray announce his passing at home on February 19th.  Jon had been dealing with a variety of lung diseases for the past 17 months. 

Jon was born under the sign of Capricorn on January 2, 1942, in Oshawa to Pat and Nomie.  Jon had an older sister Diane and younger sister Sharyn.  They led a childhood filled with adventures and freedom to roam around town without worry or care.  Children during this time were only expected to return home for their noon meal and supper @ 5:00!  Trying not to get into too much trouble as a youngster, many happy times were spent fishing, playing hockey, and running around with his 6 shooter.  Cousins from Ajax enjoyed visiting their Uncle Pat and Uncle Nomie's to experience this freedom.  As a bonus, Oshawa didn't have a curfew like they did in Ajax so the cousins enjoyed playing outside later than usual.

Cars and dressing well were very important to Jon - you needed to be ready for the ladies.  As a youngster, he would offer to wash his Dad's car.  This allowed him to get in the driver's seat and move the car up and down the driveway.  Once he got his license, Jon made sure he had a job so he would have a vehicle.  His 1st purchase was a Morris Minor which he proudly drove home with his father's comment of "You purchased this"?  The top was down and when lifted, it was soon discovered there was no top - only bare metal where material should be.  Jon's Mom with her excellent sewing skills soon made sure he had a top.  Drag racing was very popular on Simcoe Street during this time and Jon enjoyed this too.

The Mowbray family had a little cottage on Lake Simcoe where plenty of adventures took place.  This is where Jon met Murray Smith and they would continue their friendship over the years with fishing, boating, skirt-chasing, and other pursuits.  When Jon was in his 30s they decided it was time to look for property where they could build cottages side by side.  Searching Ontario for that perfect spot, they came to Dorset and purchased property on Kawagama Lake.  Jon and Murray's friendship continued with time spent fishing, eating out, and a trip to Newfoundland in 2016. 

Jon worked briefly at General Motors and this is where he met another lifelong friend - Jesse James.  Jesse in his 'spare time' raced horses and soon Jon would have a horse of his own named Banner.  Jon spent a lot of time visiting Jesse and his wife Jackie and their children.  It was with sadness that Jon had to say goodbye to his 'old buddy' in December 2024.

Jon would describe himself as a "confirmed bachelor", watching over the years as friends married, soon divorced, or miserable enough where they should be.  Those dating Jon over the years would describe him as having all the qualities of an "eligible bachelor" - in other words, good husband material.  In 1978 Jon went on vacation with a friend from work to Old Orchard Beach, Maine.  A typical resort town featuring 7 miles of pristine beach and plenty of attractions.  For the locals, it was a great place for dancing, walking the beach, having a slice of pizza, and visiting the amusement park.  One evening they went to White Hall to hear a live band and have a few drinks.  From across the room, Jon saw Penny.  At 1st they were dancing with others but soon they were introducing themselves and dancing together.  Penny thought he and his friend Bob seemed nice enough to invite them to the family farm - Randall Orchards in Standish - to meet her Dad and walk this beautiful farm. 

Their courtship was brief when Jon invited Penny to 'move to Canada' on the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend.  This is where their adventure begins.  Soon they would have their children Amber, Tieg, and Brooke, and later the addition of their only grandchild - beautiful Paige.  Jon was a lover of the outdoors, encouraging fishing, how to plant and maybe even weed a garden, bird watching, feeding and identification, and cooking.  There was always a boat to take the children fishing, swimming, and tubing.  Every year they tried heading to Maine to visit the grandparents; allowing the children to run, play, and eat all the apples and cider they wanted at the orchard.  There would always be a cookout where Jon was in charge of grilling those RED hot dogs unique only to Mainers.  Jon and Penny enjoyed taking them back to Old Orchard Beach to regale on how they met, pointing out where White Hall was, and taking them to the beach and the same spots they had enjoyed.

Penny would describe Jon as a wonderful provider - Mr. Dependable - someone you could count on to always be there.  When Penny saw how good he treated his Mother, that was good enough for her.  Jon took pride in everything he did and loved fixing, tinkering, and building.  If a friend needed help or guidance, Jon was there to provide it.  He tried to teach his children the values of being kind to others, doing for others, and having FUN along the way. 

Their adventures started in Oshawa but soon they bought a lot in Brooklin and built a home where they would stay for 20 years.  When they thought about retirement, it was having some acreage and being next to the water.  Jon, Penny, and Brooke would spend weekends with a picnic lunch and travel parts of Ontario looking for that perfect spot.  It was found when they landed in Gooderham.  This gave Jon the opportunity to purchase equipment and blaze trails through their property.  Time was spent touring the many local lakes with the boat to see where the best fishing was and where the biggest fish were.  The ones that got away were always the biggest ones!

Jon loved feeding his chickadees and soon had them eating from his hand; a gift he would give his granddaughter Paige.  After much patience, the nuthatch soon realized they could be in on some tasty treats too, so they came to him when his hand was outstretched.  Jon enjoyed crossword puzzles - something he took up after his Dad's passing as he also enjoyed crosswords.  Jon also liked solitaire and prided himself on saying "I don't CHEAT like my mother-in-law Mary"!

Many friends were made on their move to Gooderham and they commented on how blessed they were to find this little town. Jon became buddies with Dawsie MacDuff from up the hill and soon they would be visiting the local coffee holes each morning for a beverage and local gossip.  Gooderham was Dawsie's stomping grounds so each drive he was able to tell Jon what this was 80, 90, or 100 years before.  He became a historian on this lovely town and its many colourful characters.  Dawsie has a sugar shack and early each Spring, both would get their skid steers, blazing out the trail for the lines. 

Jon's daughter Amber - their beautiful 1st born recalls  "I always remember Dad being a teacher. Either because he liked teaching or wanted me to be able to do things myself.  Cooking, changing a tire, gardening, tying a hook on a fishing line, and even building things.  As a kid and adult, I liked hearing his old cowboy stories.  It was just like a Western movie some of the things he did.  I remember him making pancakes on weekends.  And that we always got together for holidays to have turkey and the best stuffing."

Jon's son Tieg - their beautiful 2nd child recalls "My dad was a very loving father. He was very patient and gentle with me as a child. His presence was very supportive. It’s hard to put into words but his presence was very warm-hearted and loving. He was a really good dad and I will be forever grateful that I was fortunate to have him as a father.

I remember him telling me stories of how I would sometimes fall asleep on his chest listening to his breathing. He used to take me on long walks and often we would explore the woods together. I remember playing baseball with him in Brooklin. He was always eager to share what he knew on any given subject. He was very talented and was a very good problem solver.

He liked fixing things. I remember from a very early age working on cars together even if I was just watching him or handing him a tool. Anything that needed to be fixed he would most often figure it out and sometimes I would get involved and we would work through the problem together.

He was a simple, hard-working, intelligent, and loving person and that is how I will remember him. He taught me the merits of being kind to animals. As well as being able to solve problems for myself.  Much of what I’ve learnt today, and many of the skills I have now, are due to his kindness. Thanks for being who you were Dad. Love you, Tieg"

Jon had quite a surprise when he learned he would become a father for the 3rd time, commenting on how in a few years he'd be "collecting the baby bonus and old age pension cheques at the same time"!  His son Brooke moved back home in 2017 when Jon was having cancer surgery.  In the summers they would check out local lakes and beyond on their fishing adventures - always searching for that big one.  They worked on projects together and invested in a sawmill for future woodworking projects. They agreed to disagree on how to plant and maintain a vegetable garden; Brooke was happy with weeds, his father was not!  Jon enjoyed making freezer jam so on his last summer here, Brooke helped with that. 

They enjoyed cooking and preparing meals together, deciding each day what their evening meal would be.  Brooke was his best friend and Jon took comfort as Brooke became his caregiver too.  Jon still enjoyed going for rides in the truck.  They would work on the grocery list and head out with Brooke going into the store and Jon resting comfortably in the truck.  Any little errand was an opportunity to go for a ride.  Jon also enjoyed making his wine, with their last batch bottled just a few days before his passing. 

All good things must come to an end and they started happening when Jon was having trouble breathing.  Jon's life became a little bit smaller, but he tried living it fully - continuing to do his crosswords, play solitaire, and when he could, put his hand out where his birds could land.  Jon always looked forward to visits from his most precious people - his children and granddaughter.  His son Tieg from B.C. surprised him last June and that meant the world to him - having all of his family together under one roof just for a little while.

His beautiful granddaughter Paige remembers "Pups was the best grandfather a girl could ask for, he was a hard-working role model and made me the person I am today. Growing up we’d spend the summers fishing and boating, winters making maple syrup, and on the trails. He got me my first horse and passed down so much knowledge that can’t be read in books. When he’d come into the city to visit me, he’d reminisce about his younger days - pointing out all the spots he had so many memories. He lived a very fulfilling life, and I am so lucky that he had a part in raising me."

Jon being the human that he was - was quick with criticism and ALWAYS had to be right - or at least think he was!  Toward the end of his life, he could see that his comments to his children and wife should have been more supportive over the years.  Maybe spending more time to let each know how much they were loved, and cherished, and that he did respect their unique differences even when he didn't understand them.  Jon loved his family plain and simple and wasn't able to articulate that on a regular basis. 

Jon hopes that his friends and family will remember to pay tribute to their family and friends while they are living and let them know how special they are.  Don't be afraid to be kind and do something for others without expecting something in return.  Remember to keep your bird feeders well stocked and look forward to catching a big fish that doesn't get away!

Private Funeral Arrangements

The family kindly asks that, instead of flowers or donations, you honor Jon's memory by cherishing the time you shared with him and keeping him in your thoughts. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the HALIBURTON COMMUNITY FUNERAL HOME 13523 Hwy#118 Haliburton, Ontario K0M 1S0 (705) 457-9209.