James Shuttleworth

James Richard Rudyard George Shuttleworth – Red Buffalo Leading, 87 years of Bacon Ridge, Manitoba, after a brief battle with cancer, passed at his residence on Saturday March 8, 2025. 

Jim was born in Horse Bluff, Manitoba to Bud and Eva Shuttleworth (nee: Flett).  He was raised here with his siblings John (Anne), Allen (Lena), Florence Ross (James) and Doug (Sharon).  He married Valerie Doreen Ranville on June 18, 1960 and they remained in love until her death on December 8, 1998.  Jim left school at an early age to help out on the family farm and then left home to earn money to help support his family.  He worked where he was needed, including as a farm hand and with Canadian National Railway.  His work took him to several areas across Manitoba and NW Ontario.  In 1967 Jim and Val moved home to Bacon Ridge.  It was here that Jim was instrumental, along with Val, Uncle Angus Spence, Ferdinand Guiboche and Reverand Adam Cuthand, in establishing the Manitoba Metis Federation.  Despite facing a myriad of obstacles, Jim successfully became self-employed.  Him and Val started with a small restaurant operated out of their residence.  Tragedy struck and this residence was destroyed by fire.  Around the same time, Jim started Jimmy’s Taxi which operated for several years out of the house.  A few years later, Jim started Jimmy’s Trucking and contracted work with several construction companies in Manitoba, primarily with Riverside Gravel.  The taxi company was sold to his cousin Frankie Davis and still operates in Bacon Ridge.  In 1974, Jim was able to secure the bus contract to transport students from Bacon Ridge to Ste. Rose du Lac.  Jim operated his bus for 50 years until he was no longer able to in January of 2025.

Besides the MMF, Jim was one of the founding members of the Lake Riders Snow Mobile club, along with his siblings and friends from the area surrounding Bacon Ridge and Ebb and Flow. 

Jim and Val’s home was open to anyone, many times there were cousins, uncles, and other children friends staying in the home.  In the 80’s, Jim and Val were foster parents to several teenagers, many of whom indicated how safe they felt living with mom and dad.

Jim is survived by his children Roxanne, Duane, Dave (Isabel), Sherri and grandchildren Shane (Stacy), Jackie, Greg, James (Lisa), Jamie, Josh, Alexis (Phoenix), Drayden, Chloé (George Mancheese), Arielle, Great Grandchildren Ryu, Bella, Aiden, Calvin, River, Drayson, Gina, Drayden, James, Lynelle, Logan and two special young women, Lily and Kameryn, In-laws Sterling, Wally, Errol, Don, and Donna, God-Children Bonnie Eggleston, Tanis, Pam and Nadine Shuttleworth, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Jim was predeceased by his spouse, daughter Patricia (1971), baby brother George, brother John (2023) and parents Bud (1984) and Eva (1998), nephew Regan Ross (2011) and niece Gail Ross (2016).  Father and Mother in law, Emile and Mary (nee: Spence), brother’s-in-laws, Gordon, Bryan, Rene, Randy, Norman and Sister-in-law, Delphine.

Prayers for Jim will be offered on Friday, March 14, 2025 at 7:00 pm in the Ebb and Flow First Nation Community Complex, Ebb and Flow First Nation.  Rev. Jona Weitzel will officiate.  Family and friends who wish to escort Jim home to the complex are asked to meet at Sneath-Strilchuk's Ste Rose Chapel at 4:30 pm on Friday.  

A celebration of Jim's life was held on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 1:00 pm in the Ebb and Flow First Nation Community Complex, Ebb and Flow First Nation.  Following the service, cremation has taken place and the interment will be held at future date in St. Bede's Cemetery, Kinosota, MB 

Thank you to the staff of Prairie Mountain Health (Dauphin and Ste. Rose Hospitals and their home care team) for their care and support and helping in granting Jim’s wish to be at home.  Special thanks to William Campbell, Floyde and Faylene Sutherland for their spiritual guidance.