Obituary of Jack Haight

Jack Haight December 12, 1930 - February 5, 2018 87 Years Jack Haight moved to the district of Bessborough with his parents Isabelle and Don Haight and his older sister Doreen when he was only a few months old. He loved to tell people it was the best decision he ever made. Jack met his wife Anita when she came to teach at the rural school and boarded at his parents' house. The couple married and moved to a homestead of their own only three miles from where Jack was raised. They worked hard to build up their farm and welcomed three daughters, Cheri, Donna, and Shannon. Jack was a gentle, kind, compassionate man with an innate respect and interest in the natural world. His children and grandchildren have many fond memories of going on "nature walks" with him. Together they observed everything from ants to moose to red tailed hawks, studied fox dens, bird nests and beaver dams, learned how to read the skies to predict the weather, as well as the fine art of selecting just the right stone to skip across the Kiskatinaw River. He loved ranching and raised cattle for most of his life, still maintaining a herd of several hundred head right up until his health began to fail at the age of 76. Although firmly rooted on the family ranch with little interest in travel, he loved to learn about the world through books. He was very well read and always had a few nonfiction books on the go, as well as his Western Producer newspaper close at hand. Jack was a shy but gifted musician, who despite not being able to read a note of music, had only to listen to a song once before picking out the tune on any one of his instruments-accordion, banjo, fiddle, guitar or the family piano. Many long winter evenings at the farmhouse were enlivened by his music. Jack had a wonderful sense of humour and loved to tease and tell stories. We will always remember how his blue eyes sparkled just before he delivered the punch line. His stories are sure to be told and retold at family gatherings for years to come. He will be warmly remembered and deeply missed. Jack was predeceased by his wife Anita Haight, his parents Don and Isabelle (Weselak) Haight, his stepfather Jack Weselak, sister Doreen Hustak, brothers-in-law Frank Hustak, Chuck Houghtaling, John Houghtaling, Don Houghtaling, and sisters-in-law Helen Houghtaling and Ann Houghtaling. Jack is survived by his three daughters Cheri (Hal) McKenzie, Donna Kane (Wayne Sawchuk), Shannon (Darcy) McKinnon, former son-in-law Larry Kane; grandchildren Crystal McKenzie (Shadi Fleifel), Kyle McKenzie (Amanda Wong), Myles Kane (Melanie Gauthier), Megan (Ryan) MacLeod, Devon McKinnon, and Dean (Jenni) McKinnon; great grandchildren Rawad Fleifel, Makai Fleifel, Ira MacLeod and Atley MacLeod; sister-in-law Dolores Houghtaling; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. On July 28th, the family will be hosting a Celebration of Life for both Jack and Anita Haight (who passed away on December 2, 2017) at Donna's home in Rolla. The family would like to thank the staff at Rotary Manor for all their kindness, compassion and excellent care over the last four years. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Rotary Manor Care Facility, 1121 90 Avenue, Dawson Creek, BC, V1G 5A3 or World Wildlife Fund Canada, 410-245 Eglinton Ave E, Toronto, ON, M4P 3J1.