Doris Jean MacArthur
1932-2022
In the early morning
of Monday, January 18, 2022, Doris passed away peacefully in Valley
Regional Hospital, a month shy of her 90th birthday. Doris lived in
her beloved home in Berwick up until that time.
Doris was born on
February 17, 1932, in Morristown, Nova Scotia. She was a daughter of
her late parents, Hartley Lewis Hutchinson and Lalia Rebecca (Nichols)
Hutchinson, and the loving wife of the late Dr. Edward Donald
MacArthur.
Doris is survived by
her children, Michael (Sue), Kentville; Jane, Whitehorse, Yukon;
Hartley (Arlene), Coldbrook; step-children, Roderick (Laurie),
Bedford; Connie, Smith’s Cove; Henry (Carole), New Bedford, Mass;
Eric, Berwick; grandchildren, Nicholas, Britany, and Emily MacArthur
of Halifax; Morgan (Krissy), Dawson City, Yukon; Paul, Whitehorse,
Yukon, and Michael Fraughton, Fort McMurray, Alberta;
step-grandchildren, Matthew (Mary Pat) McKay, Ontario; Alysa (Anthony)
Forbes, Melbourne, Australia; Kelly (Joshua) Finch, Aylesford; Edward
(Mikaela) MacArthur, Sweden; Amy (Derek) MacArthur, Edmonton, Alberta;
and Frances MacArthur, Aylesford; as well as three great-grandchildren
and 11 step-great-grandchildren; brother, Leslie (Jackie) Hutchinson,
New Minas; brother-in-law, George Mattison, Jasper, Alberta; several
nieces and nephews; first-cousins, Margaret Walter, West Vancouver,
BC; Mary Rainforth, Halifax; Sonja Rundle, Brighton, Ontario; lifelong
friend, Shirley White, Berwick; and Arlene’s parents, Aldrich and Ann
Misner who took Doris on many outings and she visited often. In
addition to her late husband Ed and parents, Doris was predeceased by
her son, Andrew Gregory from her first marriage to Alexander Gregory
(deceased) and loving sister, Pauline (George)
Mattison.
Raised in the farming
community of Morristown, Doris had a wonderful childhood on the family
farm, nestled among apple orchards, maple trees, barns, brooks, and
the community. She played and worked hard growing up with her two
siblings, Pauline and Leslie, cousins and friends nearby. Her father,
Hartley, boasted about her hard work ethic pitching hay, picking
apples and the many chores. Doris described images of coasting down
the crusty snow-covered fields on fast sleds. She skated on the frozen
ponds scattered in the areas near her home. Doris told of the suspense
when a WWII plane crashed in the orchard, and government agents stayed
in their homes. She recalled hours spent playing in the attic with
playmates dressing up in clothing from the past. There was excitement
during apple season when hired men came from afar and ate at their
dinner table. These are just some of the cherished stories she told
about her childhood.
Doris was sporty. She
became an avid softball player with her beloved sister, Pauline, in
her teens. In 1946, the Berwick Foresters invited the two to play on
the town’s first softball team. Later in 1951, while
employed in Halifax, Doris would then play for the top Maritime team,
the Halifax Ladies Arcade. In 2000, the Berwick team members were
recognized as inductees of the Berwick Sports Hall of Fame as Valley
Champions from 1946-1948, going undefeated in their 1947 season. As an
adult, she loved to skate or play badminton with friends. Later in
life, yard care, gardening, yoga, walking, biking, and cross-country
skiing were her favorite sports activities.
After graduating from
the Success Business College in Truro, Doris worked at I.A.C. Halifax
and lived away from Morristown for several years. When she returned,
she worked at Western Kings Memorial Hospital. She met respected Dr.
Edward MacArthur, who lovingly referred to Doris as ‘Mus.’ In 1966,
they were married at her family home in Morristown, and would live in
Berwick with their newly combined family.
Their family grew when
Doris joined Ed’s four with her two children. Eventually, the birth of
their youngest son Hartley completed their family of seven children.
Doris and Ed nurtured their «mine-yours-and-ours» family and
later grand and great-grandchildren. Some may remember a yard full of
kids, friends, go-carts, motor bikes, and always activity. The family
photo albums are full of memories of fun times from her early years on
the farm and then her married years with a growing family,
grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in Berwick.
When they were first
married, Doris and Ed might have been seen peddling through Berwick on
their tandem bicycle built-for-two or dancing up a storm at the local
square dancing events. Over the years, they enjoyed many camping trips
around the province and throughout the Maritimes, sometimes relaxing
at their Lake George cottage closer to home. Together they made road
trips to the Eastern and Southern United States to visit family and
friends. Doris also took pleasure in her trips to the Yukon to see
daughter Jane and her young family.
Doris’ passions were
many, but her primary dedication was always to her family. In her role
as homemaker, loving wife, and parent, she joyfully prepared many
delicious meals for a large family. She enthusiastically maintained
their home, yard, and garden with love and purpose. Her dinner table
was laden seasonally with the fruits of her work: pickled beets,
million-dollar relish, succulent sliced tomatoes, home-baked bread
from freshly milled grains, and many traditional Nova Scotia dishes
such as hodge-podge and strawberry short-cake. The aroma of
home-cooked meals filled the kitchen, and everyone remembered her
special health cookie recipe. Amongst her duties, she took time to
listen, read stories, and play cards and board games with her
grandchildren. She took the grandkids on picnics to the orchard,
skating at Berwick Arena, and hosted many a family celebration.
Another tribute to her commitment to family was how she lovingly cared
for her parents, Hartley and Lalia, especially during their senior
years. She worked with her sister, Pauline, and brother, Leslie to
support Hartley and Lalia to live out their years at home on the farm
in Morristown for as long as possible.
Doris loved the farm,
nature, and the beautiful Annapolis Valley she called home.
Photography was one passion she developed as she captured the immense
beauty she saw in simple things. She snapped images such as a rose
petal, orchard blossoms, the hue of an apple, spring May flowers and
Lupines, seascapes, back road vistas, or portraits of grandchildren
and family gatherings. Doris cherished fishing at the Mill Brook in
Morristown. She excitedly took her children and grandchildren there to
be amongst the waterfalls, moss-covered rocks, and white foam-covered
eddies. Doris would calmly put the worm on the hook for those who were
squeamish or help them with the catch, ending with a delicious pan fry
at home. She loved a walk on the farmland, in the woods, along the
shoreline, or on the sidewalk in town: appreciating friendly chats
with neighbors and community members. One of her pleasures was reading
fiction and non-fiction, quietly sharing her books and knowledge with
others. Doris was grateful for all life offered here in the
Valley.
Doris had been a
dedicated member of the Morristown United-Baptist Church and later the
Berwick United Church. Some of her volunteer commitments in the
community were on the Home & School Boards in Morristown and
Berwick, the Berwick Badminton Club, Berwick Minor Hockey, Berwick
Food Bank, and Meals on Wheels.
The family would like
to thank the doctors and nurses at Valley Regional Hospital who took
professional care of our mother in her last few days. Also, a huge
thank you to live-in caregiver, Karen, for providing excellent care
for our mother. Karen always ensured Mom was a happy lady enjoying
walks, explorations, and drives. Whether cruising in the car through
her beloved Morristown, recalling precious memories, relaxing at the
lake on a hot summer day, sharing a picnic, sipping a cup of tea, or
seeing the Valley from the Look-Off, Mom appreciated her caregivers
and their kindness. When Doris’ friend Shirley moved closer to home
these past few months, Karen welcomed her on their outings. Shirley’s
friendship gave Mom comfort in the nostalgic stories of their early
years. Joyce, thank you too for your generous care on Karen’s respite
days. Your kind words and recollections of fond memories from Doris in
the W.K.M.H. days bring great comfort. We would also like to thank
Home Care By Angels and all caregivers who came into her home to
provide loving care for our mother over the past few
years.
Mom had a very
common-sense approach that provided a practical solution to everyday
matters. She loved life and demonstrated steadfast commitment,
humility, trustworthiness, kindness, patience, wisdom, forgiveness, a
sense of humor, and so much more. She always had a smile and an
encouraging word. Mom had the good fortune to continue daily drives to
see the sights with caregivers or family, living at home until a
couple of days before her passing. Whoever the driver, when they asked
at the end of the driveway, «Doris, which way do you want to go
today?» – she’d look up and down the street, point and say with a
twinkle in her eye, «We’re good to go…give her…and keep on
trucking!» Hers truly is a life well-lived. We will miss her
greatly and carry her strength and spirit with us each
day.
The funeral service,
followed by a celebration of life reception, will be held at 11:00
a.m. on Thursday, July 14, 2022 in the Morristown Baptist Church,
Morristown. For those unable to attend, a video webcast will be
available on Friday, July 15 at 11:00 a.m. For full obituary and to
view the video webcast please visit:
www.whitefamilyfuneralhome.com. In place of flowers, memorial
donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke
Foundation, or charity of choice.
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19322022
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Doris Jean MacArthur 19322022..
Décès pour la Ville: Kentville, Province: Nova Scotia