James Golden MCCREA

1890 - 1989  (98 years)

• Name	James Golden MCCREA
  Nickname	Goldie
  Birth	14 Sep 1890	Thessalon, Algoma District, Ontario, Canada
  Gender	Male
  Immigration	1924
  	Arrival in U.S.A.
  Location	1930	Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA
  	Census
  Location	1940	Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA
  	Census
  _UID	963D1F1769154406BEE317705A9C41497967
  Death	23 Apr 1989	(U.S. Consulate), Canada
  Burial	Maple Ridge Cemetery, Thessalon, Algoma, Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I205	My Genealogy
  Last Modified	28 Nov 2025

  
  

  Father	William Henry MCCREA,   b. 8 Jan 1843, Tawnawanny, Co Fermanagh, Ireland d. 4 Jul 1916, Thessalon Township, Algoma District, Ontario, Canada (Age 73 years)
  Mother	Fannie BURNSIDE,   b. 17 Jan 1849, Sodom, Hungerford Twp., Hastings County, Ontario, Canada d. 13 Dec 1907, Thessalon Twp, Algoma District, Ontario, Canada (Age 58 years)
  Marriage	17 Apr 1872	Hastings County, Ontario, Canada
  Family ID	F55	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Margaret Gertrude JEFFREY,   b. 11 Jul 1900, Cobden, Ross Twp, Renfrew District, Ontario, Canada d. 8 Feb 1988, (U.S. Consulate), Canada (Age 87 years)
  Marriage	1 Oct 1928	Lucas County, Ohio, USA
  Family ID	F64	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	6 Jan 2022

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show		Original McCrea Home Livingston Creek. Thessalon, Algoma, Ontario, Canada
  		Children of William Henry & Fannie (Burnside) McCrea - c1895 Names on Photo
  		Goldie McCrea - 1961 Cropped N.O.C.A. Winners picture
  		Goldie McCrea, Ray Allen, Bill Minion, Bill Allen 1961 N.O.C.A. (Northern Ontario Curling Association) Winners
  		Goldie McCrea Cropped from group photo
  		Goldie McCrea Photo has been 'colourized'
  		A Winning Thessalon Curling Team Goldie McCrea with brother-in-law Herb Allen (back) & 2 nephews, Dean & Ray Allen (sons of Herb & Lottie)

  
  

  Recordings

  Eye Upon the Sparrow - 1963 1963 Recording of Goldie singing

  
  

• Notes

  James Golden (known as Goldie) was born on September 14, 1890 at Livingstone Creek, Thessalon Twp, Algoma District, Ontario, completing William and Fannie's family. Goldie never knew his father as a vigorous man. He was just a baby when his parents went out in a winter storm to help a neighbour. Afterwards, William became ill, developed pneumonia and, over the next 3 years, deteriorated until he was unable to walk and was largely bedridden. When Goldie's mother died in 1907, various children came to stay at the house to help William, but Goldie was the constant. He became Postmaster for Livingstone Creek in 1914, setting it up in their home where his father could enjoy seeing his neighbours as they came to do their business. Goldie carried his father wherever he needed to go and William especially enjoyed it when Goldie took him outside at night to see the stars. Someone (often Goldie) always took the time to read the newspaper to William every day. In 1916, his father died but Goldie and his sister Hattie remained in the house at Livingstone Creek for the next few years. Goldie gave up the postmaster’s job in 1920, and eventually the farming. By 1924, Hattie and Goldie were drawn to Detroit where their sister Lizzie Jewkes and her family were living. in 1928, Goldie married Margaret Gertrude (Gertie) Jeffrey in Ohio. For the next 22 years Goldie worked in Detroit as a carpenter and Gertie was employed as a telephone operator. They returned to Livingstone Creek often as the homestead remained the family's favourite gathering place. When Goldie retired from working in Detroit, they returned to Livingstone Creek. Goldie tore down the old homestead and built a lovely brick home there for Gertie and himself. Although they had no children of their own, they were like a special set of grandparents to the next generation. They involved themselves in the lives of their extended family and in their community as a whole. Goldie was an avid curler and he loved singing with his family and in the church choir. When he moved into the local nursing home, the staff said they would hear him singing at night at the top of his lungs, never missing a word.