Obituary of George Douglas MACKIE
January 3, 1924 – Paris, Ontario
February 15, 2021 – Black Diamond, Alberta
George Douglas Mackie of Okotoks, AB passed away on Monday, February 15, 2021 at the age of 97 years.
Doug was born in Paris, ON, January 3, 1924. At four years of age the family moved to Beaverlodge in the Peace River region of Northern Alberta where he grew up on a farm. At nineteen, he joined the RCAF, where he graduated from #5 Air Observer School in Winnipeg in 1943. There he became navigator on a Canadian Lancaster bomber with the 426 Squadron. His crew flew one complete tour of operations on missions over Europe in 1945. After the war he used veteran credits to obtain a B.Sc. in Agriculture at the University of Alberta. He became an agricultural officer with Agriculture Canada where his lengthy, distinguished career involved the regulatory inspection of seeds, feeds, fertilizers and pesticides. Following many years of volunteering with the Calgary Seed Fair and Hay Show committee he was awarded honorary life member status with the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede. He also was awarded life member status with the Millarville Racing and Agricultural Society for his many years of exemplary work with the Field Crops Section of Priddis and Millarville Fair. He also volunteered extensively with charities including Meals on Wheels and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. As a long-time resident in Okotoks, he was a member of St. Peter’s Anglican Church there. In 2012 he became a resident of Heartland Retirement Centre in Okotoks.
Doug loved the land and God’s creation, so would spend hours in his huge acreage in sight of the Rocky Mountains where he welcomed friends and relatives to participate in the beauty and the bounty of his large gardens. He also loved to travel and was very fond of Holland and the United Kingdom.
Doug had no children of his own but was predeceased by two wives, Cornelia de Bode of thirty years and Mary Smith of ten years; as well as his sister Jean Mackie. He is survived by his sister-in-law Hanni de Bode, her son and daughter, Roger and Xandra, in Holland, (Roger being like a son); as well as cousins in St. Albert and the Peace River region. He also is survived by his sister-in-law Sonja (Schwerk) Smith and family.
A Private Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Family and friends are invited to join Mr. Mackie’s service streamed live (see below) on the day of the service. For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted. Condolences, memories and photos can also be shared and viewed here. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the charity of the donor’s choice.
In living memory of Doug Mackie, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek, 14441, Bannister Road SE, Calgary.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de George
Douglas
Doug
MACKIE 1924 2021..
McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes
Décès pour la Ville: Calgary, Province: Alberta