Parcourez la nécrologie de Michael Ray Mike MacDonald 1959 2023 résidant dans la province Nova Scotia pour le détail des funérailles
Michael Ray «Mike» MacDonald – 63, Bible
Hill. It is with great sadness the family of Michael Ray
«Mike» MacDonald announces his passing on Thursday, January
5, 2023. Mike, admitted to Colchester East Hants Health Centre at the
time, succumbed to cancer after being diagnosed in March of 2021 and
dealing – to no one’s surprise – courageously with
the disease. In a sad irony, his beloved wife Paula (MacKenzie), also
lost a battle to the disease only a year and a half earlier; Paula was
58 when she passed away in May of 2021.
Born in Digby, Mike was the son of Ray and Carole (Patterson)
MacDonald of Bible Hill. Mike’s family moved to Bible Hill
when he was only two years of age, and the community and family would
quickly grow to become synonymous with one another. With great pride
and affection, Mike would often refer to himself and the friends he
grew up with as the ‘Bible Hill boys’ and the
friendships and connection to his home certainly maintained the test
of time. He remained a resident of Bible Hill throughout his
life.
While still a teenager, Mike started working as an agent for
the insurance business started by his father, Ray. Originally located
at the corner of Queen and Elm streets in Truro, Ray
MacDonald’s Insurance moved to College Road in Bible Hill
just in behind the former Cavanaugh’s Food Market and more
recently, Colchester Co-op Country Store building, where it remains
today.
When he wasn’t working or spending time with Paula,
Mike could be found playing sports with his two main passions being
hockey and fast pitch/softball. On the ice, he’ll best be
remembered as a feisty forward with Bible Hill Dairymen of the old
Truro and District Hockey League and the playoff battles against teams
such as Onslow Olands, Brookfield Elks, A & W, Brett
Motors/Miller’s Excavators, and Shubenacadie Eagles. A
couple of the latter filled the Colchester Legion Stadium and Don
Henderson Memorial Sportsplex in the mid-1980s and are remembered
fondly by the many who attended.
On the ballfield, mostly at Stanfield’s under the
lights, Mike starred for a team sponsored by the family business
– MacDonald’s Insurance – first in Truro
Commercial League and then in the highly regarded Colchester Major
Softball Association (CMSA). Bringing the same aggressive attitude he
displayed in hockey to the ballfield, Mike was known for his quickness
on the basepaths and overall hustle while patrolling second base for a
couple of league championships, which he shared with a few other
‘Bible Hill boys’ including brother, Scott
– a talented outfielder – and lifelong friends,
Chuck Weatherby and Martin Cameron. A good hitter as well, Mike
started or continued many rallies for the perennial CMSA contenders.
He remained a constant at the ballfield throughout his life which
included as a coach with a Truro Business Ladies Softball power, also
sponsored by MacDonald’s Insurance, where his wife Paula
played a prominent role as centrefielder and lead-off
hitter.
In more recent years, he enjoyed watching his beloved
grandsons, Hudson, Rylan, Bennett and Sam play hockey and
baseball.
Mike also played minor football growing up and was known as a
guy you wanted in your foursome playing golf since his good nature
ribbing always included a few directed at himself, and he was the
first guy to celebrate a playing partner’s good shot with a
jovial fist-bump. Annual P.E.I. golf trips, with brothers-in-law, John
Terry, Richard MacKenzie, Sandy MacKenzie, Chris Crowell, and buddies,
Martin Cameron and Kenny Atkinson, were a staple of the last number of
years as well as golf weekends, on the ‘Island’ or
in Cape Breton, with a few of the ‘Boys’ –
appropriately titled ‘Hill Boys Grip n’ rip
Open’ with John, Martin, Steve and Greg Patton, Kevin Boyce,
Rob MacEachern, and Jamie Cottingham.
With Paula, Mike loved to spend time at the beach, the family
cottage at Brule being their main base, and had enjoyed trips to
Florida in more recent years. Also, walking alongside or behind Paula
with their dogs – Seven and Pearl. While at Brule, Mike was known as a
good horseshoe-tossing partner as well.
And, of course, for anyone who knew Mike, you learned this
quickly and were reminded of it often – he knew everybody,
and everybody knew him. No matter whether in his beloved Bible Hill,
somewhere else in the Maritimes, or even beyond, the odds of Mike
running into someone he knew from the insurance business, sports or
some other walk-of-life weren’t just good – they
were great, almost inevitable.
Mike’s children were a light in his life alongside
Paula. He took pride in watching his own son follow in his footsteps
playing ball and hockey and sharing in the passion. Mike made a huge
change in his life 22 years ago – getting sober and staying sober. A
decision he made for himself and for the love of his family. His
daughter, Danielle was a strength at his side to help him through
these trying months since Paula’s passing. To say he was a
very proud father would be an understatement.
Mike is survived by his parents, Ray «Sonny» and
Carole (Patterson) MacDonald; brothers, Doug (Jenny), Scott (Donna);
children, Danielle (Chris Armsworthy), Joey (Jennifer Roode);
grandchildren, Hudson, Bennett, Sam, Rylan, Easton; many nieces,
nephews and cousins; aunts and uncles including, Donna and Fred
Blackie and Doug Patterson. On Paula’s side of the family,
as well as brothers-in-law already mentioned, Mike was loved and will
be missed by mother-in-law, Louella MacKenzie; sisters-in-law, Janice
(John Terry), Rhonda (Brent MacGrath), Marilyn (Rod Roode), Judy (Greg
Marquis).
Along with his wife, he was predeceased by his maternal
grandparents, Ernie and Marcella Patterson; father-in-law, Ron
MacKenzie; sister-in-law, Lori Anne.
Special thanks to oncologist, Dr. Melvin, and her team at the
VG Site, QEII, Palliative Care Team and Dr. Don Rowe at Colchester
East Hants Health Centre and VON Home Care Team for their
support.
He will be dearly missed by all and solace is being taken in
that his death does reunite him with his greatest love –
Paula.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Mattatall –
Varner Funeral Home, 55 Young Street, Truro, where Mike’s
family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, January 11,
2023. Funeral service will be held 2 p.m., Thursday, January 12, 2023,
at St. David’s United Church, corner of Pictou Road and St.
David’s Avenue, Bible Hill, Reverend April Hart officiating.
Reception will follow. Spring interment in Bible Hill Cemetery, 41
Warren Drive, Bible Hill. If so desired, donations in Mike’s
memory to Jumpstart or Colchester SPCA are welcomed. Private
messages of condolence may be sent to the family by viewing
Mike’s obituary on-line and selecting «Send A
Condolence» at: www.mattatallvarnerfh.com
1959 2023
Décès pour la Ville Truro, Province Nova Scotia
avis deces Michael Ray Mike MacDonald 1959 2023
nécrologie Michael Ray Mike MacDonald 1959 2023
Nous offrons nos plus sincères condoléances à la famille et aux amis de Michael Ray Mike MacDonald 1959 2023 et espérons que leur mémoire pourra être une source de réconfort pendant cette période difficile. Vos pensées et vos mots aimables sont grandement appréciés.