Gary Wayne BALL

Gary Wayne Ball
Passed away peacefully at home in Peterborough on May 11, 2017, ending his cancer journey at the age of 72.

Predeceased by his parents Keith and Bunny Ball; cherished husband of Freya Long for 24 years; dear father to MaryLou, Charles and Jason (Mel); grandfather to David, Nixon, Oliver and Reese. Beloved brother to Brian (deceased). Brother-in-law to Kathy and uncle to Megan; Sean Sumbler (Bev) and uncle to Charles and Charlotte; Kevin Sumbler.

Gary was a journalist, columnist, magazine editor, hunter, angler, relentless book reader, cookbook and knife collector, lover of power tools and the owner of numerous fine dogs (Relic, Spook, S**tHead, Bumper, Mocha, Angel, Scribbles, Beau, Pete, Sam). With time he came to appreciate fluffy cats. He was progressing systematically toward his goal of reading every mystery in the Peterborough Public Library and at the time of his death had reached the 'R' authors.

An excellent listener, Gary could always make us laugh with his hilarious observations and turns of phrase. He knew many things about so many things and could never say where he picked up this fact or that obscure tidbit -- but likely it was from his personal library of thousands of volumes or from a comprehensive reading of multiple newspapers every day of his adult life.

Gary was born in Ottawa in 1944 and lived variously in Foymount, Trenton, Cold Lake, Winnipeg, Florida and Gander as his father served with the Canadian Air Force. But the highlight was the years from 15-19 that the family spent on a radar base in Metz, France. These were life-changing years to which he referred often in later life, notable for friendships made, European adventures undertaken, dating the General's daughter and memories of a base high school so small that every boy had to play if there was to be a football team. Upon returning to Canada to attend the engineering program at U of T, Gary discovered he had no aptitude whatsoever for this field; by mutual agreement with the Dean he turned his attention elsewhere. Reading a Globe and Mail ad for a newspaper reporter in Kirkland Lake he left Toronto for northern Ontario and it became clear he had a great aptitude for writing. Gary enjoyed a 40+ year career 'playing newspaper' that took him from the Northern Daily News to the North Bay Nugget, North Bay Living and the St. Catharines Standard, to the editing of Angler and Hunter magazine for members of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, and later, to Ontario Fisherman, Outdoor Canada magazine and the Peterborough Examiner. Along the way he won the Greg Clark Outdoor Writing Award presented by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, as well as numerous awards and accolades from the Outdoor Writers of Canada, the Ontario Newspaper Awards and the National Magazine Awards, among others.

Gary added richness to the lives of those who loved him. He will be missed by his Ball, Speicher, Cowie, Chreptyk and Sumbler relatives. The family thanks the caregivers of St. Elizabeth Health Care who supported us in keeping Gary at home during his illness. A private family gathering will be held at a later date.