Jay Simpson

Jay (John Allen) Simpson passed away at the age of 66 in Banff. Jay moved to the mountains 44 years ago on a hunch, following his university sweetheart to Lake Louise. He ended up working at the Banff Centre and had a son, Drew who he adored and fought for when he and his girlfriend split. He then went onto work at the Town of Banff and later ended up with the Rocky Mountain Schools Division. These were his official jobs... however, nothing was too 'official' to Jay and mostly he was interested in playing sports, organizing them, teaching them or simply watching them on TV. He made a career out of sports in some form or other such that he could put in his time working at them, and then spend the rest of the time enjoying sports with his friends. He was the Tennis Pro at the Banff Springs Hotel, the Junior Golf Captain at the BSH course and a member of the basketball league and also the referee. These kept him fit, happy and paid for his adventures. He found those local moments often, where, for example the golf course would be open right after the Telus Skins games with no one booked and he would proudly announce that we had it all, alone on an amazing course with the smell of Jack Nicklaus still in the air. Many a great night pulling flags at the course, or having the local's special at the Barbary Coast, reminiscing about the Dag and Wanker Tennis trips or getaways across the range to golfing in the west. Jay was a good soul. He was easy going and organized and cheerful and ready to set up another trip somewhere to play a sport or get to another amazing location. He used to organize the Canada Day festivities and parade for years and was always a team player in the community of Banff. He was proud of his town, of the life he got to set up, despite the costs of living in the Bow Valley and the fact he wanted to play sports all the time vs actually work. I know we will all think of him and others like him, when we experience those local moments, where time seems to stop and no one is around but you and a few friends, a golf ball, a hole, a beer, and a rollie and memories to boot.

Services provided by Russ Reynolds and Bow River Funeral Service.