Donald “Don” Bryce Lockhart
May 1, 1945 - May 13, 2025
Funeral Details: Following cremation, a Celebration of Life will be held at Bide-a-Wee later this summer. For details and updates, please refer back to this notice
Passed away peacefully on May 13, 2025 at Georgian Bay General Hospital in Midland, following a stroke in October 2024.
Son of the late Dr. J. Osler and Helen Lockhart of Hamilton and Honey Harbour, Don is lovingly remembered by his sister Elizabeth (Bill) Wilton in Lanark; nephews Billy and Chris in Ottawa; and John (Melba) and family Perth; Ian and niece Jennifer Kitchen of British Columbia; as well as his best friends Dave (Denise) Wingfelder of Honey Harbour and Linda Thomasson of Florida.
A long-time resident of Honey Harbour, Don will be deeply missed by his many friends in the area. Known for his creativity and skill as both a carpenter and marine mechanic, Don was always willing to lend a hand. His generosity and selflessness were well known—he would give the shirt off his back to help someone in need.
Special thanks to Dave and Denise Wingfelder, the caring neighbours in Gravenhurst, and the dedicated staff at Tiffin and Villa Care in Midland for their support and compassion.
Following cremation, a Celebration of Life will be held at Bide-a-Wee later this summer. For details and updates, please refer back to Don’s notice at www.peacefultransition.ca.
Donations in Don’s memory may be made directly to the Georgian Bay Native Friendship Centre, by e-transfer or cheque, please call 705-526-5589 for more information.
Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.peacefultransition.ca.
Peaceful Transition Simcoe
Linda Thomasson
Posted on: Friday, May 16, 2025A wonderful tribute to Don’s life. Always there for anyone. Provided our family (me for sure) with wonderful memories of the Harbour. I’ll miss him.
Elizabeth Lockhart Wilton
Posted on: Friday, May 16, 2025My best brother. From the kid I babysat, to the boy who went camping with me and lived in South Carolina with Bill, Billy and me, to the man who phoned me nearly every day in Gravenhurst – live shared is life treasured always.
Armin Grigaitis
Posted on: Saturday, May 17, 2025Don Lockhart and I first met in 1978 when a mutual friend introduced us after a snowmobile ride that ended at Dons place in Bide A Wee channel around midnight.
We were cold and hungry when we arrived and Don offered to make home made pizza in his wood oven . While warming by the fire with beer and pizza we heard many tall tales from Don!
We immediately struck a great friendship and I was always amazed how much such a slight guy could eat !
I later asked Don to help me in our small construction business working for various cottage clients and eventually in 1981, Don helped install submarine cable off the barge on Georgian bay, Six Mile Lake, Severn River and Kawartha Lakes .
Don was a relentless , resourceful and reliable friend and hard worker and we accomplished a great deal of challenging work together and laughed a lot .
Don was always around when anyone needed him and would drop what he was doing to help at a moments notice .
I will miss Don and the good times we had .❤️
Armin Grigaitis
Carrie Ellis
Posted on: Monday, May 19, 2025Don was one of a kind and I am happy that he played a part in my life. RIP old friend😔
Billy Wilton
Posted on: Tuesday, May 20, 2025Don was my uncle and as a teenager came to live with us in South Carolina soon after I was born, and forever after that we were more more like brothers. The best times of my life were spending summers in Honey Harbour at my grandparents’ cottage next to Don’s home, and the times with Don were always the most fun.
When I was a young adult I went to live with Don one year and those were the best times of my life. Don had so many stories to tell and was a master at telling them. Then once I had a son, we always spent summer vacation with Don and happily they become as close as Don and I had been. I’ll miss him terribly but will always cherish the memorable times with him that made me so much of who I am now.
Love you, Brother ❤️
Gretchen Vogelsang
Posted on: Thursday, May 22, 2025Don, or Uncle Don to our little family, will always be remembered for the long, philosophical ‘chats’; his humble approach to life, love and family; and a ton of full on belly laughs. Don was a critical relationship to Ian and Jennifer Kitchen, two people so loved by us – and that influence lives on in them, today.
Go with love, old friend: Open water awaits you – sail on.
Gretchen Vogelsang and Ursan and Brynn Kitchen
Jennifer Kitchen
Posted on: Thursday, June 12, 2025Uncle Don…To my brother and I growing up he was the cool Bachelor Uncle. He could roll a cig with one hand, make a bowtie from a Kleenex and seemed to be able to fix absolutely anything. He babysat us at the cottage with a roll of quarters for his Aztec Pinball machine and it would keep us busy for hours. He always had a great story, entertaining and interesting stories, I remember…I was often fascinated by him. I’d brag about him to my friends and the stories got bigger. When I was a kid, once in a while he’d leave his dog with us in Burlington and head south and I’d have to get up in the wee hours in the dead of winter and walk him…a small memory but meaningful to have that responsibility. And meaningful to have grown up with him as part of my life and memories…When I think of Honey Harbour I see my Uncle Don…smiling and laughing. xo Jennifer Kitchen
Barney Walsh
Posted on: Sunday, June 15, 2025In the same spirit as so many others have mentioned, Don Lockhart was a kind friend and talented Mr Fix It for multiple generations of our family.
On behalf of both our parents, Sally & Jack Walsh, and our children the Walsh & Keating families would like to express our appreciation for the helpful role Don played in our enjoyment of spending summers in Honey Harbour. He was a great resource and friend. We will miss his kindness. God Bless Don.
Barney Walsh