Obituary of James Joesph "Joe" Ballantyne

James Joseph Ballantyne, a long time resident of Dawson Creek, B.C. passed away on Wednesday, January 28, 2015 in Dawson Creek at the age of 70 years. Joe was born on August 17, 1944 in St. Catharines, Ontario to parents Bill and Sally Ballantyne. He was raised in St. Catharines and attended school there. He was the eldest of five children. Joe began playing piano at the tender age of seven. At the age of nineteen, Joe joined a band called the The Country Sweethearts'. Playing piano and singing, Joe travelled all across Canada working in clubs and cabarets and at the Alaska Cafe where he was known as The Piano Man'. He has worked with such well-known personalities as Loretta Lynn, Roy Clark, Al Churney, and Jack Kingston, just to name a few. What made Joe's talent so special was that he had no formal training. Put a sheet of music in front of him and he was mystified, but hum or whistle a tune for him and he had it down pat after a few tries as though he'd played it all of his life. Joe was in Whitehorse for a few years where he was first, three years in a row at the Honky Tonk Piano. He also played many times at the Pouce Coupe and Dawson Creek Legion, as well as Rotary Manor. Joe was predeceased by his mother Sally and his father Bill, as well as his sister Teresa. Joe is survived by his son Jimmy in St. Catharines, his sisters Ginger (Vini) Balester and Beth (Paul) Barker, his brother Billy, along with two grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Very Respectfully Reynars Funeral Home and Crematorium