David Eldon Jewell

With deep sadness, we announce the passing of David Eldon Jewell of Bracebridge, formerly of Utterson, ON.

David passed away on Sunday, Sept 8, 2024, in his 85th year.  He was the first-born child of the late Robert Eldon Jewell and the late Edith Elizabeth (Porter) Jewell. Beloved husband of 59 years to Linda Ann (MacLean) Jewell.  Loving father of Leslie Tempest (Scott) and Blair Jewell (Louise Hackett) and very proud Grandpa of Paco Jones-Jewell, Kira Tempest, Will Tempest, and Flora MacKenzie Jewell. David was “big brother” to Barbara Prescott (Jim), the late Shirley Hutchison (Jim decd), the late Robert Jewell (Mary) and Donald Jewell (Linda decd) and enjoyed his relationships with his many nieces and nephews.

David was born in Brampton, Ontario, and grew up in North Toronto, where he attended Northern Technical and Vocational School and North Toronto Collegiate Institute.  His first career was in teaching and began at Parklawn Public School in Etobicoke.  Later he took further training to become an Industrial Arts teacher. From 1968-1972, he taught Industrial Arts and other subjects in Atikokan, Northwestern Ontario. While in Atikokan, his children, Leslie and Blair, were born.  

The summer of 1972 brought him and his family to Huntsville, ON, where he did some supply teaching before launching his second career in real estate, both as a real estate agent and within his own business as a dealer for mobile and manufactured homes in the area. Over this career, which lasted through 2010, he worked with many different real estate companies, culminating in owning and brokering his own company called Prudential Preferred Partners. During this time, he also worked on several property development projects both locally (Ballantrae Heights in Huntsville, Meadow Heights in Bracebridge), elsewhere in ON (Heritage Farms near Brechin), and in Florida (Caribbean Isles, Winter Haven).  He loved his work as a realtor, especially meeting and helping young couples find and purchase their first home!  

David learned to love canoeing, fishing, and hunting while living in Atikokan. He shared so many good times with his teaching buddies, canoe-tripping many weekends throughout each summer.  Once in Muskoka, work became his priority – a matter of survival.  He was an active contributor to community organizations, working hard behind the scenes, never in the limelight, nor taking much credit.  The Huntsville Chamber of Commerce was his first project. He spent many years in various positions, including Vice-President (but never President!), working to grow this organization into an effective, thriving supporter of small business, which it still is to this day. He even did a short stint with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. In 1993, he was instrumental in getting the Huntsville Festival of the Arts off the ground. It was he who worked tirelessly to organize, promote, line up venues, and get sponsors the first couple of years.  These initial efforts laid the foundation for the festival to grow and develop into the independent, not-for-profit organization that it is today, offering year-round entertainment and arts education.

David has always been proud of and actively engaged in his Scottish heritage. He grew up attending the Caringorm Club in Toronto, with his family, enjoying traditional Scottish social dancing.  He learned to play the bagpipes at the age of 14 and participated with other family members in the MacIntyre Pipes and Drums throughout his high school years. At this time, he also played for his two highland dancing sisters. His piping career continued in Atikokan when he and a couple of others started a small band there. Later, in Huntsville, he played regularly for the North Muskoka Highland Dancers, including his daughter, Leslie, and taught one dancer’s dad to play the pipes and became associated with the local pipe band, the Cameron of Lochiel Pipes and Drums. In recent years, David has been so pleased and proud that his youngest grandson, Will, has taken up piping, too. He has thoroughly enjoyed watching Will’s talent grow and develop and has lovingly passed on his pipes, music, and other Scottish regalia. 

David has been on a faith journey all of his life, starting with his childhood foundation at Glenview Presbyterian in Toronto. In Atikokan, he was very involved at St Andrew’s Presbyterian, primarily as treasurer. In Muskoka, he found his church home at Knox Presbyterian in Bracebridge where he has served, over the years, in every aspect of ministry – a Sunday School teacher, a youth group leader, committee member, an Elder, and a member of the Board of Managers, acting as Chair of the Board for several years in the recent past. His personal faith has grown and evolved over his time at Knox, thanks to the four ministers who have served at Knox since 1973.

In 2017, David was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis, a progressive lung disease.  Since 2022, the effects of this disease became more obvious and functionally limiting. He was dependent on supplemental oxygen for the last two years, but despite this, he never gave up hope nor lost courage. Ever the optimist and always positive, he marched bravely to the beat of his own drum right onto the end of the road.

A Service of Thanksgiving and Celebration will be held on Monday, September 16, 2024, at Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Taylor Rd., Bracebridge, ON: Visitation 10 am, Service 11:30 am, Reception to follow.  Interment will take place at 3 pm at the Stephenson Cemetery, 280 Muskoka Rd 10 Port Sydney ON.  In honour of, and in tribute to David’s love of his Scottish heritage, we encourage you to wear some tartan of your choice.  The service will be recorded and available for viewing via the Knox Presbyterian Church YouTube channel.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Knox Presbyterian Church – Memorial fund at https://knoxbracebridge.ca. Dr. Shane Shapera’s respiratory research – UHN Foundation  https://uhnfoundation.ca/tribute, Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation at https://cpff.ca

Arrangements entrusted to Torrance Funeral Home & Chapel (89 Bowes Street, Parry Sound).

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