The recent passing of Jim Keller has saddened a great many folks across the South Cariboo who very much liked and respected him.
With a whole host of good friends from his more than six decades in the area, many are now reflecting on his amazing life.
They say Jim rode into 100 Mile House on his Harley motorcycle in 1953, along with Frank Baron, who was his lifelong best friend until Frank’s passing in July 2012.
His other good friends over the years included Donna Barnett and Brian Gilbert who share some of the stories told by, or about him over the years.
Jim was born in a cabin in Ontario on Jan. 2, 1931, and it is likely his birth was not registered, as no birth certificate was issued.
(His friends recall Jim’s challenge 65 years later to get his Canada Pension, despite having worked and paid taxes his whole life, and how the Ainsworth family lent a hand to get that sorted out.)
After his arrival in the South Cariboo, the young man soon earned a reputation for his myriad skills from logger sports to cowboy action, and plenty in between.
His amazing capacity for accuracy with throwing knives and tossing axes was just the tip of the iceberg for this man, who also had a great sense of humour, and a somewhat tough exterior, but a really soft heart.
Never one to stop learning more skills, within days of buying a unicycle Jim was riding it all around town and up and down the 99 Mile Hill.
Brian was about 12 years old when he met Jim working at Bridge Creek Estate, and recalls how he and other children were amazed by the young cowboy’s excellent riding, and finely honed marksman skills with guns and bull whip.
It was a “special treat” for the youngsters when Jim pulled out his six guns, he says, adding Jim once out-performed a United States number 1 target shooter.
Jim was “a friend to all, and a smart-ass on occasion,” Brian remarks.
Evenings could find Jim working as a waiter in the Exeter Arms Hotel bar, where his antics entertained, and sometimes shocked the patrons as he jumped over tables balancing a tray-load of drinks or pretended a spill was headed for someone’s lap.
On the annual rodeo weekend, he always rode his horse right into the bar.
Never liking to be shown up by his friends, Jim would challenge them to logger sports and marksmanship contests, and pretty much always won. He once “claimed” Frank Baron’s fame by beating him at axe tossing after his friend had returned triumphant with Vancouver’s PNE championship.
Jim worked for Ainsworth Lumber off and on for many years, particularly in the 1980s, as a faller, in other forestry roles, and at the Ainsworth family’s gold mine.
A miner in his own right, as well as an avid trapper, Jim also worked gold pans and sluice boxes and ran traplines in the Likely and Horsefly areas.
Donna notes Jim’s excellence at snowmobiling, and also with cross-country skiing, which took him around the province as a professional event announcer and saw him train many local children how to ski.
As one of the South Cariboo’s first devoted snowmobilers, Jim was sent out by his friends Jack and Donna Barnett, who had a dealership, to find a good place for snowmobile trails. The site he found, and helped to develop, is now home to the 100 Mile Snowmobile Club track and clubhouse.
Jim was a regular participant and organizer for snowmobile races, and his mastery of off-road machines also led him to enjoy ATVs, of which he had several.
Chuck Shaw-MacLaren was another longtime chum of Jim’s who often participated in those races, along with Chuck’s sons.
“He was a real Cariboo character,” says Chuck.
“He did one hell of a lot of development around town, and for nothing – he didn’t want any recognition for it. Anytime there was something to do, Jimmy was there to help.”
When Jim experienced a bad crash on his Harley, he went straight out and bought another one, a blue-and-white model that became a familiar sight for years in marking his meanderings around the region.
He was very gentle toward animals, and always treated the environment with great care.
Jim held a black belt in martial arts, and was a great storyteller who dearly loved to spin a yarn.
Anyone who frequents BJ’s Donuts & Eatery regularly will know Jim, a longtime fixture at the coffee shop in his own reserved chair, and have heard some of his stories.
“Jimmy was an icon in this area – he was just incredible,” says Donna.
She adds he took pride in everything he did and was very independent, never asking for help, but always giving of himself.
Jim lived simply – except for his “toys” – and happily on his own, along with his faithful canine companions.
He is survived by his daughter, Tracy Walker, and four grandchildren.
While Jim would not have wanted any fuss or service, his family and friends are invited to swap tales over the coffeepot on Aug. 16, 1-5 p.m., at 6053 Skaday Rd. (southwest Horse Lake; bring a lawn chair).
