John Morris Rankin: April 28, 1959-January 16, 2000

Canada is in shock upon learning the news that John Morris Rankin, a member of the Cape Breton family band, The Rankins, was killed on January 16, 2000 in a tragic car crash at the age of 40.

John Morris was driving in his pick up truck with three teenagers, including his son Michael, on his way to a hockey game when he swerved to miss a pile of salt on the road and plunged into the Margaree Harbour.

The teens were rescued from the icy waters...one of them is reported to have hypothermia, but the other two are fine. Police tried for hours to reach John Morris, but were unable to get to him in time to save his life. They are being called heros for their efforts.

On a personal note...

I am still in shock. Literally.

I don't watch the news and very rarely listen to the radio, so at the time it was announced John Morris was dead, I had no idea.

I went to work this morning (January 17, 2000), over 24 hours after he died, and still didn't know. Even when I saw the newspaper at work in passing while I was cleaning tables, and saw the headline, it didn't click in that the "Rankin" mentioned was one of THE Rankins. So I didn't even glance at the article. I still had no idea.

Then a little while ago, after I got off work, I was with Lauchie in Pizza Delight (he's a delivery driver for them) and Judy and Lindsay mentioned it.

I almost cried. Then and there, in a restaurant for crying out loud, I nearly broke down and cried. I didn't, but I came so close. Why?

When the Princess of Wales died in 1997, I didn't feel as bad as I do now. When John F. Kennedy Jr. died last year, I didn't feel as bad as I do now.

Again, why?

Oh, I can understand my lack of feeling over JFK...I've never been a real follower of the Kennedy family, I just knew who they are.

I felt bad when Diana died. I cried about it and mourned with the rest of the world. I just got over it a lot more quickly than everyone else. But I didn't do any public mourning. Didn't even feel like it.

But I hear the words "John Morris Rankin died in a car crash yesterday morning" and I'm so close to tears it's almost funny. If it wasn't so tragic and sad, maybe it would be funny.

It's not funny. Far from it.

I have been a fan of the Rankins since 1989, when they released their first album. They disbanded last year so they could pursue solo careers. I love their music, always have. It's been part of my life since I first heard it.

It's so hard to believe that one of them is dead. It's unbelievable that John Morris is dead. He wasn't on the front burner of the group, he tended to be in the background, playing fiddle and piano, but it was still very much part of the band. He was only 40 for pete's sake...why did he have to die so young?

How could anyone die so young?

We ask that question over and over and over as people in the prime of their lives are taken from us. The world asks it when the people who are taken from us are famous.

I have one thing to say about it. To quote Billy Joel...only the good die young.

REST IN PEACE, JOHN MORRIS. YOU WILL BE MISSED.

If you would like to leave a message for me regarding this memorial page or John Morris, you can do so in the Guestbook on the index page of this website. Thank you.

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