September 8, 1933 - January 12, 2023
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Donald Sutherland Coulson in his 90th year. Loving husband, father, Poppa, and Poppa Don passed away peacefully on January 12, 2023, with his wife Joyce and family by his side. Joyce and Don have been married for 69 wonderful years. Cherished dad to children Sandra (Brian), Wendy (Jim) and son Don (Lisa), grandchildren Tara (Luke), Brad (Michelle), Susan (Brent), Chris (Courtney), Sean (Jaclyn), Jacob, Daniel (Hayley) and beloved ‘Poppa Don’ to 13 great grandchildren.
Son to the late David and Edith Coulson, pre-deceased by brothers Gordon, Paddy, sister Molly and daughter-in-law Lisa and will be dearly missed by his brothers Doug (Nancy) and Fred as well as his many nieces and nephews.
Don worked at the Bank of Toronto from the age of 15. He moved back to Barrie at 22 to be closer to family and to start working for the Barrie Flyers Junior A hockey team. He had a very long and successful career as Financial Controller with the Barrie Welding group of companies. He was never afraid to try something new and went into business on his own. Many people he worked with are still friends to this day and keep in touch which is a testament to how well he was respected. Don volunteered for St. George’s Church as treasurer for many years and was managing the area’s community service hours program before it went to Salvation Army.
Don’s greatest pride and what he will be remembered for by many, was co-founding with Joyce a kids baseball league in 1974 that became the very successful Barrie Minor Baseball Association. It meant so much to him when the Barrie Sports Hall of Fame inaugurated him as an Unsung Hero for his contribution to sport.
Through his entire life Don was an avid sportsman playing and coaching many levels of ball and hockey. He continued to play hockey by starting with brother Doug, the first ‘Oldtimers’ hockey club, the Barrie Credit Union Oldtimers. With that team he and Joyce travelled with their whole crazy group to the US and Europe for many tournaments. He and son Don coached hockey together well into his 80’s!
He enjoyed playing tennis whether with the gang in Barrie or in Mexico. His prowess with a fishing rod was legendary and he loved nothing better than fishing at his cottage in Wasaga Beach or by travelling to the rivers of northern BC.
Don and Joyce were always on the go whether it was for his sports or the grandkids sports and musical endeavours. They loved heading away for the better part of the winter to Ajiic, Mexico and the house in La Floresta became their home away from home for many winters. His was a life well lived and he was totally devoted to Joyce, who was with him right to the end and who never left his side. The family would like to thank all the nurses and PSW’s from Simcoe Muskoka Community Care and Bayshore who came into their home. A very special thank-you to Dr. Thomas Mills for taking such great and loving care of Don and being amazing support for the family.
Visitation will take place on Saturday, January 28, 2023, at St George’s Anglican Church (9 Granville Street, Barrie) from 1-3pm with the service to follow at 3pm. Following the service, a reception will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Alzheimer’s Society.
Messages of condolence may be forwarded to the family through adamsfuneralhome.ca