September 18 1953 - March 5 2025
Donald Arthur Farquhar passed away on March 5 2025 surrounded by family, which was his favourite way to be.
Survived by his wife of 46 years, Bonnie Wray Breadner; daughters Alexandra Wray (Clayton Rempel), Riley Arlene (Robert MacPherson), and Molly Dawn (Kyle McGrath). Poppa to grandsons Arthur Wray and Elliot Alexander Rempel, and Ian Donald Farquhar MacPherson, and brother to Susan Wakefield (David).
Predeceased by parents Alexander Hendry and Dorothy Mae Farquhar (nee Sedgwick), brothers Bruce and James Farquhar, nephew Robert Wakefield, and father- and mother-in-law Albert Wray and Belva Clara Breadner.
He will also be missed by much-loved family, friends, colleagues especially his Huronia Dental family, and community.
Born in Agincourt, he completed a degree in Chemistry at the University of Toronto before attending the University of Western Ontario for dentistry and graduating in 1979. After practicing general dentistry for 40 years, his passion for life-long learning led him to shift his focus to dental sleep medicine and sleep apnea. He was a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine where he was the President of the Board in 2024. He held memberships and accolades from multiple associated groups across North America. He was a dedicated philanthropist, serving on the Wendat Board for many years, volunteering at the Georgian Bay Cancer Support Centre, and making multiple trips to the Dominican Republic to provide dental care to unserviced communities. He was well known for generous donations to local and international charities throughout his life and career.
Don spent his childhood summers on Georgian Bay, which is why he and Bonnie decided to raise their three girls in Midland. The Midland area allowed him to follow his passions including cycling, kayaking, hiking, swimming, snowshoeing and skiing. He has run 17 full marathons (including the Boston Marathon twice) and many triathlons. He was particularly proud of completing the Half Ironman. Don was adventurous: his hobbies included motorcycling, scuba diving, and international travel with Bonnie.
Don learned to play guitar at the age of 12, but never met an instrument he didn’t like. He picked up the fiddle in his forties and enjoyed years of gigs both solo and with the band Blind Mary at Cellarman’s and local events.
Don loved family dinners, great scotch, a good book, Test Batches beer and maple fudge, and Grounded Coffee. He was proud of his Scottish heritage and even prouder of his three girls, their three husbands, and his grandsons. We will miss his great sense of humour and his distinctive laugh. To know him was to know true kindness.
A visitation will be held at the Midland Cultural Centre on Saturday May 3rd from 1pm-4pm, eulogy at 3pm. In lieu of flowers, Don had requested that you consider donating to the Georgian Bay Cancer Support Centre or Hospice Huronia Tomkins House.
The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the community for their overwhelming support. Sincere thanks to the wonderful human beings at Hospice Huronia Tomkins House.
Arrangements entrusted to Nicholls Funeral Home
