Parcourez la nécrologie de Mary Lew Murray 1947 2023 résidant dans la province Nova Scotia pour le détail des funérailles
Mary Lew Murray –
Pomquet, Antigonish County.
Mary Lew
passed away suddenly at St. Martha’s Regional Hospital in
Antigonish on January 13, 2023, surrounded by loved ones. She was 75
years old.
Mary Lew was
born and grew up in Truro, the daughter of Starr and Pegi
Pattillo.
At a very
early age she developed a special connection with animals, cats, dogs
and horses, one that lasted her whole life. After graduating from
Acadia University with a BA in English Literature in 1968, Mary Lew
pursued her dream and spent ten months in England at the Fuller School
of Equitation. This experience directly influenced her future career
choice and helped develop the high standards she brought to her
profession. After returning to Canada, she taught for brief period at
Brookfield Junior High and boarded with Helen and Garth Densmore. The
lessons she learned during those few months with the Densmores she
carried with her through her
life.
On the second
last day of the sixties, she married Mac and returned with him to
Kingston, Ontario. It was there that Mary Lew began her equine
coaching career. In 1974, Mary Lew and Mac returned to Nova Scotia,
eventually settling on their farm in Pomquet, Antigonish County, where
they raised three wonderful children. For a number of years,
Mary Lew managed the horse show at the Eastern Nova Scotia Exhibition
and was the driving force behind the creation of the Antigonish Saddle
Club. In 1992, Mary Lew established Fairwind Farm Equestrian Centre,
when a new indoor riding arena allowed her to operate her business
year-round.
Over the past
55 years Mary Lew has coached and mentored hundreds of riders from
ages 5 to 75 across Nova Scotia, in Kingston Ontario and St.
John’s, Newfoundland. Many of these students have become
long term, cherished friends. She’s received coaching
excellence awards both provincially and from Equine Canada. As a
teacher and coach, Mary Lew was one of a kind. She would never, ever
teach a lesson without wearing breeches and riding boots. Every
student, from absolute beginner to advanced dressage riders, received
100% of her attention and experienced exactly the same consistently
kind and encouraging instruction.
She had no
hidden agendas. In every case, her primary concern was the welfare of
the horse. Over the years she developed an uncanny ability to quickly
pinpoint the correction that was needed to allow the horse and rider
to work more effectively together. She believed deeply that horses
should be allowed to be horses.
Mary Lew was
also a skilled rider and for many years had great success showing her
favourite horses – Frosty, Naneek, and Daxter – across the province,
primarily in the dressage ring. She rode regularly up until a few days
before her passing.
Mary Lew also
showed her athletic ability in other areas. At Acadia, she played
three years of varsity field hockey and was chosen as the Most
Valuable Player in her senior year. In her 50s Mary Lew took up
running and participated in many of the Johnny Miles 5K events. When
she was 70, she won gold medals in the 100 and 200m sprints at the 55+
Games National Championships in Saint
John.
Mary Lew was a
faithful fan of the Toronto Blue Jays and Raptors and an enthusiastic
curler on Sunday nights at the Highlander Club. She was an avid reader
and crossworder. She liked to have CBC Radio playing continuously in
the background. Her chocolate chip cookies are
famous.
A great many
cats and dogs felt the warmth of her affection over the years. Rosie,
Dilly, Nora, and Luna will miss her very much. Mary Lew loved her
children, her grandchildren, and her extended family deeply and
unconditionally.
Mary Lew is
survived by Mac, her husband of 53 years, her biggest fan and very
best friend; sons, Peter (Jennifer), Halifax; and Mike (Becky),
Halifax/ Dominican Republic; daughter, Sarah McKenna (Matt), Pomquet;
grandchildren, Isaac, Aiden, Wil, Molly, and Callie; sisters, Gay
Pearson (Jud) and Barb MacLeod; brothers, Tom Pattillo and John
Pattillo (Kim); in-laws, nieces, and
nephews.
She was
predeceased by her parents; sister, Ann MacAdam; niece, Trish Pearson;
and sister-in-law, Margaret Christie.
Cremation has
taken place under the direction of C.L. Curry Funeral Home,
Antigonish. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary Lew’s
memory may be made to a charity of one’s choice. On-line
condolences: www.clcurry.com.
Mary
Lew’s friends and friends of the family will be coming
together for a celebration of her life at the Fr. P.J. Baccardax Hall,
1034 Monk’s Head Road, Pomquet from 1-4 pm on Saturday,
January 21st. This will be an opportunity to spend time together
sharing memories and reminiscing on a life well
lived.
1947 2023
Décès pour la Ville Antigonish, Province Nova Scotia
avis deces Mary Lew Murray 1947 2023
nécrologie Mary Lew Murray 1947 2023
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