James "Jim/Soupbone" Henry Langley

We are saddened in the loss of James “Jim/Soupbone” Henry Langley who passed away on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. Jim was born July 26, 1932 in Point Tupper, Nova Scotia, to parents, Thomas and Rose (Malcolm) Langley (now deceased). 

He grew up in Point Tupper, Nova Scotia where he was active in baseball and lobster fishing with his Papa. He was the proud coach of “The Dukes”, who went on to win the baseball championship in the early 1960’s. He was a long-time employee of Port Hawkesbury Paper and a strong believer in unions to ensure employees were protected from exploitation and had a voice in decisions that affect their work lives. 

Jim moved to Toronto for work where he married Elizabeth (Betty) MacIver in 1958, being married 67 years, and had his daughter, Kelly (Lonnie) Burke.  Jim, Betty and Kelly returned to Point Tupper in 1961, where he began his career at Port Hawkesbury Paper and where his son, James (Shelley) Langley, was born. 

Jim was a devout Catholic and a strong man of faith.  Nothing would keep him from sitting with his ladies in the back pew at St. Joseph’s Church, even if he had to jump over the back of the seat.

He cherished his family, which included his grandchildren, Emily (Matt) Tabor, Loni (Tom) Oxford, Nicholas Burke, Ally (Sam) MacMaster, Andie (Mark) Rankin, and Riley Winsor. The stars in his sky were his great-grandchildren, Scarlett Tabor, Henry Oxford, Jocelyn Oxford, Hugh MacIntyre, Iver MacMaster, Nohr MacMaster, Caoimhe Rankin, Rhodes Rankin, Poppy Rankin, and Edith Rankin, who brought a smile to his face at the mention of their names, and all enjoyed a good teeth rattling on occasion. 

Jim is also survived by his brothers, Tommy (Marius) Langley, Antigonish, Nova Scotia and Paul Langley, Monastery, Nova Scotia; his sister, Emily Morgan, Bedford, Nova Scotia; sister-in-law, Isabel MacIver, Port Hastings, Nova Scotia, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his brother, Bert; sisters, Cora, Rosie, Patsy, and Sandra; brothers-in-law, Gerald Morgan, Neil MacInnis, Alex Gillis, Dennis Corrigan, Neil MacIver, and Richard MacIver; sisters-in-law, Mabel Morrison and Noreen MacIver. 

The family would like to extend their thanks and appreciation for the care given to Jim by the nurses, staff, and Dr. Deroche at Strait Richmond Hospital, doctors, nurses, and staff at the Port Hawkesbury Nursing Home, and the home care workers with the Inverness County Home Care Association. We were told he was a great source of entertainment. 

A Celebration of Life service to be held on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Port Hawkesbury. In lieu of flowers a donation can be made to a charity of your choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Dennis Haverstock Funeral Home, Port Hawkesbury. Words of comfort mat be forwarded to the family at: www.haverstocks.com  

“We’ve shared our lives these many years.

You’ve held my hand; you’ve held my heart.

So many blessings, so few tears - yet for a moment, we must part.”

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