Obituary of James Harvey Sherstan

Dr. James Harvey Sherstan, 86, died Sunday, February 2nd, 2020 at the G.R. Baker Memorial Hospital in Quesnel, B.C. of natural causes.

He leaves his wife of 57 years, Betty (Vallis) Sherstan; daughter, Michele Sherstan and husband James Mcdonald; son, Scott Sherstan; daughter, Cindy Sherstan; son Craig Sherstan and wife Rebecca (Heide) Sherstan, and grandchildren Nicole and Emma de Blois, Ian Mcdonald, and Andrew and Tayla Sherstan. He also leaves behind his brother Don Sherstan and wife Rose, nephew Trevor and wife Jan and their son Cole. He will also be missed by his many close friends and colleagues in Kitimat and Quesnel.

Jim was born on April 1st, 1933 in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan to parents Bessie (Ewasiuk) and Nicholas Sherstan. Bessie was the only teacher at the one-room school house that both Jim and Don attended. Jim went on to complete his secondary education at boarding school and then studied medicine at the University of Alberta. While going to school, Jim worked construction, drove taxi, sold vacuums, baled hay (Elk Island Park) and was a janitor at the Alberta telephone company.

He completed his internship in Calgary (1961) and did his residency in St. John’s, Newfoundland (1962), where he met his future wife, Betty Vallis. They married on Jan. 3, 1963 at St. James United Church in St. John’s before returning to Edmonton where he would complete his surgical training. He wrote his fellowship exams in the summer of 1967.

After practising in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan for a year, he took over a practice in Kitimat in the fall of 1968, where he would spend the better part of his career. Despite the relative isolation, the small close-knit community was a good fit for him and his family. The Sherstans lived on Eagle and Whittlesey streets and their children attended Whitesail Elementary, Alexander Elementary, and Mount Elizabeth Secondary schools. His  colleagues, nurses, hospital staff and secretaries were valued co-workers and friends.

In a surprise, late career turn, Jim took an adventurous position in the tiny community of Sioux Lookout in Ontario’s Lake Country (1999). A few years later, Jim and Betty returned to BC to be close to their grandchildren, settling in Quesnel. Although Jim no longer ran a practise, he continued to work by assisting other general surgeons in Quesnel and in Kitimat. He savoured the long drive to Kitimat and the opportunity to visit with old friends and former colleagues. He continued this work until his health began to decline in 2017.

Jim enjoyed barbershop music, curling, camping, canoeing, cross-country skiing, vegetable gardening, playing cards, and especially, walking his dogs Jenny and Jaz. In the 90s he studied accounting part-time and later did the books for Quesnel’s “Good Food Box” program and for Savalas/Craig’s Table restaurants.

Jim always said, “Family is the most important thing” and he lived up to these words every day, in every way.

A celebration of life and scattering of ashes is planned later in the Spring. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to your local SPCA or a charity of your choice.