December 10, 1959 to December 21, 2021
As his son, I share my father's final message to the world, and all who loved him: "This is it, pain is gone, sorrow is no more. I am at peace in Valhalla to help, and fight for my perception of peace, love and honor."
I, Reg Cruickshank, write this to honor the memory of my late father, Jamie Cruickshank, Crooker. He taught me many things about life, the most vital of which, that I will carry with me through the rest of my days, is how to be a good, kind, honest, and caring man. That's who my father was. He was a man who loved all and was loved by all. The scores of people he touched the lives of feels countless and eternal. He loved and was kind to animals, loved the hunt, loved nature, honored and respected everyone he felt worthy. His life was never an easy one, so often did he live in pain and agony, but never once did he place his own pain above others, even when perhaps he should have, COULD HAVE, done so. He lived and died by his own terms, no one can ever say that he didn't live life on his own terms. He saw himself a Viking, a cowboy, a biker and a fighter. But he was so much more than that. He was the best man you would ever know, the greatest father a boy could have had, and I am proud to be his son.
I am a creative soul, and my father did everything in his power to nurture that in me. He played my favourite game with me, Yugioh, when I was a child, something that remains immensely important to me to this day. He watched cartoons with me, set up action figures with me, had sword fights, built Legos, everything he could to enjoy every waking moment he had with me. When I decided I wanted to read comic books, he took me to a shop and bought me my first one, which I read cover to cover over and over until it fell apart and rotted away. That very act set me on the path of writing and storytelling that I walk to this very day. Even still, he gave me his name, a name he loved, Crooker, that I use for my works, and which I continue to carry even now. When I was in college, I told him once, "dad, I have a really good idea for a story." And he sat there and listened, through the whole thing and never skipped a beat. He told me every chance he could "Son, you're going to do great things, you have a talent, Reg." He never once doubted my dreams, or my passion, and wanted nothing more than to see me be happy. That's the kind of man my dad was.
Our favourite pastime when I was a kid was watching our old Star Wars tapes on a crummy little CRT he dragged around everywhere. Every year we'd pull that boxset and marathon all three of those classic films in a row. When they started making those movies again, we went and saw any of them we could together. In jest, I would often quote to people Luke Skywalker's famous line, "I am a Jedi, like my father before me." But a damn good Jedi Knight my dad would have made, always selfless and thinking of how he could help and protect those who weren't himself. A hero in his own right, though he wouldn't have called himself that. I can only hope I'll be like my father before me.
Dad didn't fear death, I don't believe. It saddened him, but he often told me he was shocked he lived as long as he did. He had reached a point in his life where the friends he'd known his whole life began to pass one by one, and each one wounded him deeply, knowing he'd never see them again. But he wasn't scared of death, he was always ready to accept that it would come for him when it was his time. His final wishes, the most appropriately thing one could imagine, was not to mourn his death, but celebrate his life, on his land, after he was gone.
That's the kind of man my father was.
"Twilight is upon me, and soon, night must fall. That is the way of things... the way of the Force." – Yoda
Jamie is the son of Betty and Jim Cruickshank. Much loved father to Reg Cruickshank and Jessi-Lynn Williams. Grandfather of Lilly-Ann and Scarlett-Rose. He is the beloved brother to Steve and Brian. Uncle to Kaitlyn, Kayla, Matthew, Cole, Paige and Lucas. Great uncle to Sebastian, Lennon and Scarlet. He will be missed by his dear friend and companion Lori Patience. Jamie was loved by countless aunts, uncles, cousins and friends far and wide
For 34 years James was a proud brother and member of local 508-800 Plumber and Pipefitter’s Union.
Cremation has taken place. A celebration of his life will be held in the spring of 2022. In Jamie’s memory, donations made to TAAG would be appreciated by the family. Visit www.osullivanfuneralhome.com to leave condolences for the family. Arrangements entrusted to O’Sullivan Funeral Home (215 St James Street, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, P6A 1P7, 705-759-8456).