The Presbyterian Church in Canada has lost a number of faithful servants in the last few months. Below is a brief look at a handful of those no longer with us.
Rev. Jang Woo Lee died on Nov. 26 in Winnipeg of lung cancer. He was 44 years old. Jang Woo's condition cropped up last summer, but progressed quickly. His congregation at Manitoba Korean was supportive through it all, holding prayer services and reaching out to his wife, Seon-Ok (Sunny) and their sons, John and Joshua. Jang Woo served in Oshawa, Ont., and Abbotsford, British Columbia before being inducted at Manitoba Korean last summer, four weeks before the diagnosis. His funeral was held on Nov. 29 in Winnipeg. "It's still hard to believe it," said Jang Woo's wife, Sunny. "I'm still kind of numb."
Throughout his ministry, Jang Woo was involved in mission work with Aboriginals. "He was very pastoral and mission minded," said his best friend, Rev. Gyeong Jin Kim, minister at Vancouver Korean. "He was a really loving person, and he wanted his congregation to be joyous and enjoy life in Christ."
Rev. Dr. Thomas Melville Bailey died of natural causes in his Hamilton, Ont., home on Jan. 29. He was 92. The founder of South Gate Church, Hamilton, where he served for 31 years, was instrumental in the creation of the National Presbyterian Museum in Toronto. He wrote numerous articles for the Presbyterian Record and served as its interim editor in 1970. His life-long interest in history was highlighted by his involvement with the General Assembly Committee on History since 1956. He served as the national church's archivist from 1981-1992, and was named Archivist Emeritus of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. He was buried on Feb. 1 and a public memorial service was held on Feb. 12 at South Gate Church.
Rev. Kris Davidson, his wife Sheryl and daughter Lauren died on Jan. 7 while driving home from Calgary during the holiday season. The minister of Haney Church in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, was driving his family home over an icy stretch of highway near Salmon Arm, B.C. Their van collided with a large truck. Kris, Sheryl and Lauren were killed instantly. Two-year-old Katie survived and is undergoing treatment at Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary. A memorial service was held on Jan. 22 at Haney Church. Prior to serving at Haney, where he was since April, Kris was a student intern at Richmond Church, B.C. He graduated from the Vancouver School of Theology, where he was student association president.
Rev. Robert "Hartley" Beattie died on Jan. 31. He was 92 years old. Born and educated in Ireland, Mr. Beattie moved to Ontario in 1952 and served as minister at Knox, St. Catharine's until 1954. He then switched careers and became a probation officer and social worker for the Government of Ontario. Still committed to the church, Hartley was an elder at Central Church, Hamilton for many years. A funeral was held at Living Spirit United Church, Calgary, on Feb. 2.
Russell Merifield died on Jan. 26 at Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto. He was 88 years old. An elder at Glenview, Toronto, Russell helped write the congregation's history, Glenview Gleanings. He was treasurer of the Presbyterian College in Montreal, and served on the Canadian Bible Society and the Presbyterian Church Building Corporation. Born in Chatham, Ont., he was married for 61 years and had three children. Russell authored several books including, Who Said That?, a compilation of The Empire Club of Canada speeches. He was also a musician and volunteer pianist for the veterans at Sunnybrook. A funeral was held at Glenview on Jan. 31.
