Obituary of Donald Earl Somerville

SOMERVILLE – Donald Earl DDS October 6, 1930 – February 7, 2017 A loving tribute to Don Somerville who passed away at the North Bay Regional Health Center on Tuesday February 7th, 2017. Son of Dr. Earl and Hilda Somerville (deceased). Born in South Porcupine, Northern Ontario and brother to Joan Benson (Hugh deceased), Richard (Christine) and Brian (Joanne). Don was a loving husband to Pam and loving father to his children Kerry (Stephen), Tim (Laurel deceased) and Dawson (Lara) and stepfather to Steven (Pauline) and Philip, and grandfather to “all his girls”, Brittney, Hannah, Megan, Mackenzie, Zoe, and Hunter. Don was always so sad that the family was geographically scattered, he missed being an everyday father and Grandpa. Family was very important to him. Don was the 1st dentist in the new mining town of Manitouwadge from 1957 – 1961, and had a practice in North Bay from 1962 – 1992. His dental practice was just a part of a life that was a quest, a man of mecurial spirit, he was an Artic traveller, a pilot, a scuba diver, canoeist and a lover of the great outdoors. He, rather than taking those main highways, chose the back roads and the trails, exploring the land and the people he met, not only in Canada, but Australia, New Zealand, India, Nepal and Thailand. Those of us, whose lives have been touched by him and his spirit of adventure know that the most interesting and colourful things we have experienced are because of him and his enthusiasm. Now he’s off on his spiritual journey, this time without us. We shall miss him terribly but love him always. Friends may call at the Martyn Funeral Home on Tuesday afternoon, February 21 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm., then on Wednesday February 22 at Trinity United Church from 1:00 pm until time for services in the sanctuary at 2:00pm. Spring interment in North Bay Union Cemetery. Donation in don’s memory to Trinity United Church, or the Canadian Cancer Society will be gratefully acknowledged as expressions of sympathy. Online condolences at www.martynfh.com.