On Sunday June 12, 2016, James "Jim" MacKenzie Graham passed away peacefully at Strait Richmond Hospital, Evanston after a battle with Stomach Cancer. Jim was born in Hazel Hill, Guysborough County, on August 9, 1930 the 2nd son of Laurie Graham from Guysborough County and Hannah (MacKenzie) Graham of Margaree. In those early years Jim and his brothers enjoyed the outdoor activities available to rural Nova Scotia residents in the 1930’s and 40’s and came to love nature and walking through the forest, a passion he would take with him through the rest of his life. Jim finished High School in Hazel Hill and went on to attend Mount Allison and Dalhousie Universities where he studied Geology and it was at Mount Allison where he met Kathryn Jean MacDonald of Halifax, the woman he would marry and spend the rest of his life with. After university and under the guidance of the late Dr. Nordeau Goodman, Jim secured a position with Bestwall Gypsum (later to become Georgia Pacific Corporation) and soon after moved to Sigurd, Utah, USA. While in Utah, Jim and Kathryn had their only child, Jock MacDonald Graham in 1959. After spending several years in Utah, Iowa and Dominican Republic, Jim was transferred to Nova Scotia where he took great pride in being instrumental in discovering several gypsum deposits and as a young Geologist helped convince Georgia Pacific to invest in the mining industry in Nova Scotia. That mining operation grew to include the River Denys, Sugarcamp and Melford Mines and became a significant employer in the region. As a result of its success, Georgia Pacific began processing gypsum on the eastern seaboard of the United States. In his early years in Port Hawkesbury, Jim was involved in various community affairs including the Port Hawkesbury Town Planning Committee, a member of the Port Hawkesbury Curling Club, the Strait of Canso Yacht Club, St. Marks United Church and as a Cub Scout Leader. Jim continued to be an active member of C.I.M. (Canadian Institute of Mining) and the Nova Scotia Mining Society. In 1974, Jim was honored to have been asked by the United Nations to travel to Sudan, Africa for three weeks to review the status of that country’s Gypsum deposits. Jim went on to become the Manager of Georgia Pacific operations in Nova Scotia, the position he retired from in 1997. Jim is survived by Kathryn, his wife of 58 years; his son, Jock and granddaughter, Dana, both residing in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; his brother, Allan Graham of Sechelt, British Columbia; cousins, Graham MacKenzie of North Vancouver, British Columbia and Ralph and Sherry MacPherson of Margaree; and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Dr. Les and Gwen Slipp of Hubbard’s; former daughter-in-law, Amal Azmany of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Jim was predeceased by his brother and sister-in-law, Eliot and Olga Graham of Edmonton, Alberta. A visitation will be held at the Port Hawkesbury Yacht Club, 2 MacSween Street, Port Hawkesbury on Saturday, June 18th from 1 – 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Jim’s family asks that donations be made to the Strait Richmond Palliative Care Society. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Dennis Haverstock Funeral Home, Port Hawkesbury. Words of comfort may be forwarded to the family at: www.haverstocks.com Visitation Information Visitation Saturday, June 18, 2016 Visitation Time 1-5 p.m. Visitation Location Port Hawkesbury Yacht Club, 2 MacSween St. ,Port Hawkesbury