DavidCREE,

CREE, David June 6, 1947 – July 21, 2017 It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Dr. David Cree, aged 70, on July 21, after a long and difficult battle with cancer. An only child, David was born in Glasgow, Scotland on June 6, 1947. A brother who died shortly after birth, his father, Hugh Gault Cree, and his mother, Mary “Molly” Murcar, pre- deceased him. David attended Glasgow University and graduated M.B. Ch.B. in 1971. Becoming a family practitioner in 1972 he worked in Scotland and England. In 1981 he and his family immigrated to Caledonia, ON, where he practiced family medicine until 1990. He was very active in his local United Church and became a staunch advocate for gay rights. He believed in the equal rights for all people regardless of class, race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender. As David practiced family medicine in Hamilton, he earned a Clinical Behavioural Sciences Diploma in 1992, co-led male survivor of sexual abuse groups in late 1990, and began treating sexual abuse survivors in 1992. He developed a special interest in psychotherapy in 1986 and began full time GP Psychotherapist in 2000 and continued to do so until November 2015, at which time he retired due to illness. His practice consisted of severely traumatized patients. In helping his patients, he often used EMDR; he never judged them, listened to them, and validated them. In this way, he helped many of his patients turn their darkness into light and hope. He was interested in the politics of healthcare and was Chair of the OMA for ten years and a former president of the GPPA. David was a drummer in a pipe band in his youth. Passionate about music, he sang in the Defassco Choir, played the piano, composed music, and attended musical performances of all kinds. He also loved gardening and kept several tanks of fresh and saltwater fish. He will be remembered for his patience, kindness, honesty, sharp sense of humour, compassion, nonjudgmental understanding, and unending patience. He is survived by his partner, Irene, ex-wife, Elaine, son, George (Janice), daughter, Lynne, and granddaughters, Jolynne and Keana. Thank you to the staff of St. Peter’s, 3-East for all of the care, compassion, and kindness shown towards David. He grew to love, honour, and respect the nurses, who were his angels, and became his second family. Visitation will be on Friday, July 28, 2017 at the MILLER FUNERAL CHAPEL, 28 Caithness St. E., Caledonia, from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Service will follow visitation in the Chapel. In lieu of flowers David would appreciate a donation to St. Peter’s Palliative Care. unit. Friends are invited to send condolences and sign the Book of Memories at millerfuneralchapel.ca