It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Jean (McMillan) Gavin at Kirkland Lake Blanche River Hospital on October 25, 2026 just shy of her 91st birthday after a courageous battle with cancer. Jean was surrounded by family and friends during her illness.
Jean was born in and was a proud life long resident of Kirkland Lake. She was raised in the house her father and mother built on Taylor Avenue during the late 1920’s. With regret, she had to move from the family home she was so proud of to a senior apartment. She made her new apartment a reflection of her life, surrounded by her artwork, pictures, collections, thimbles, shells and furnishings collected over her lifetime. She grew to love her little apartment.
Jean was a fun-loving person who enjoyed sharing a good joke or story leaving everyone in the room in stitches with laughter even when she forgot the ending.
She loved to travel. She had many memorable trips including a trip to the UK and Europe. Jean in Scotland was excited to visited the home where her father grew up as a child in Edinburgh, Scotland. Then she was off to see the continent. Jean also travelled to California for her 70th birthday. The highlight of this trip was visiting the Crystal cathedral and attending the Glory of Christmas concert with Lori and Sandi.
Jean stated she had several truly happy places- swinging on her swing, her cottage, Connecticut (New England) and Florida. Jean spent many a Christmas with Lori and Shannon in Connecticut where she became a very proficient Black Friday and after Christmas shopper. She enjoyed New England’s pastel buds and flowers of the spring, warmth of the ocean breeze in summer (lobster without the beady eyes please) and the vibrant colors of fall. In Florida she enjoyed attending craft fairs, sitting in the lanai reading her books, watching the monarch butterflies in the garden and planning her next 5 annual Christmas trips to Florida. Her last trip was for her 90th birthday with Lori, Pete, Shannon and Steve to tour the holiday lights in St Augustine.
Deciding in her thirties to pursue a professional career, she returned first to high school to obtain required science and chemistry courses. Jean and her friend Linda were among the first mature students at KLCVI in the 1970’s. She attended KLCVI at the same time as her teenage daughter and son. Jean then completed the qualifications at Northern College as a Registered Nurse. After graduation she worked with the elderly at Teck Pioneer Residence as both a RN and as Director of Nursing until she retired.
Being an out-going person, Jean took great joy when she joined TOPS and "Red Hat Society". She enjoyed spending time with the ladies in these groups and made many friends and even posed for a town calendar.
Jean’s long-time friends, neighbours and their families were very important to her, and she always enjoyed their company and took the time to keep in contact.
Traditional at heart, Jean delighted in the simpler elegance of life, especially good music, fine China, and an appreciation for collecting thimbles, Royal Doultons and Hummels. Jean took great pleasure in her passion for reading books and maintaining picture albums and scrapbooks.
Jean was predeceased by her parents Fred and Margaret McMillan (Grannie Mac to many), her brother, Donald McMillan and wife Helen and brother-in-law Kevin.
Jean is survived by her daughter Lori (Peter), her son Robert (Laura)
granddaughter Shannon (Steven), great granddaughter Agnes and her sister-in-law Merle Gavin.
She is also survived by her first husband Donald Gavin.
Jean will be missed by her nieces Donna, Glenda, Yvonne and her nephews Glenn, James, Jody and Kerry and her goddaughter Sandi.
She will be also missed by her great and great great nieces and nephews many who visited the Elf Box in the Cupboard at Jean’s house. A tradition that now is passed to a new generation with great granddaughter Agnes.
She will be missed by her friends including long time friend Darlene and late in life friend Jennie.
The family extends their thanks and gratitude to the health care professionals including doctors, nurses, aides, paramedics and home care aides, who cared for her with respect and compensation during her lifetime and illness.
A special thanks to Merle and Darlene for their friendship, help and many hours spent visiting and caring for Jean.
A celebration of Jean's life will be held at a later date. Jean preferred in lieu of flowers, memorial donations to her favorite charity Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW), 28 Pinehurst Crescent, Toronto, Ontario M9A 3A5 Web: www.scaw.org or to a charity of your choice.
“I love you a bushel and a peck, hug around the neck.”