James Eardley Beaton Obituary

James Eardley Beaton, 84, of Vancouver, British Columbia, passed away peacefully on November 7, 2023 after a long battle with cancer. He grew up in Bonshaw, PEI to Leticia Melinda and James Alexander Beaton, along with sister Beverley (MacPhail). He moved to Toronto to begin a career in the finance industry. He married the love of his life, Etheleen Barbour of Montrose in Vancouver on July 15, 1961, and were married 62 years upon his passing.
He went on to be an entrepreneur in real estate and property management. Many of his life accomplishments including raising a family (Paul and Cathy) in Calgary, countless volunteer work including hockey coach, elite hockey management, Commander of Vancouver Power & Sail Squadron, Vancouver Winter Olympics 2010 volunteer along with building a log cabin in Alberta and writing a book of genealogy titled “Descendants of Farquhar Beaton”.
Eardley and Etheleen shared many passions in life included riding Appaloosa horses, restoring several cutter sleighs, and remodeling many houses over his lifetime. Their lifelong love of cruising the inlets of BC and Alaska on their boat “Beatons Beat” sharing the adventures with grandchildren Kaela Beaton, Jesse, Cole, Brett, Danielle and Kelly Willyard. They reveled in the joy of new great-grandchildren only 1 year ago from Cole and wife Rya, having great grandson Finn, along with great-granddaughter Eisley from Danielle and Jordan. He was a family man to his core and loved his nephews and nieces Trudy Gordon, Granger and wife, Wilma MacPhail, Debbie MacPhail, Karen and husband Paul Thompson, Brian and wife Corinne MacPhail and lastly Greg and wife Ruth MacPhail, along with all of their children.
He was an honorable man and his word was his bond. His favorite saying was “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should".
Eardley has been returned home to PEI to be laid to rest at Argyle Shore Cemetery