Earle C. MacDonald
1929-2018
MACDONALD,
Earle C. – It is with profound sadness that we announce the unexpected
passing of Earle Crockett MacDonald of Finlay Dan Road, Thorburn, on
Saturday February 17th, 2018 at the Aberdeen
Hospital.
Born on
November 28th 1929, at Thorburn, Pictou
County, Earle was the son of the late Finlay Dan MacDonald and Elsie
May (Crockett) MacDonald.
While
attending school from the age of twelve years Earle worked during the
evenings at his father’s meat market. In 1948 he was
employed as a Rural Mail Driver and in 1951 he became a General
Storekeeper with the Acadia Coal Company at the MacBean Mine in
Thorburn. He continued in both jobs until 1972 when he became the
Office Manager for E.D. Stewart Well Drilling. In 1980 he joined the
Water Management Department of the Province of Nova Scotia as a Well
Inspector and he retired from this position in
1994.
Earle was
predeceased in 2017 by his beloved wife Marie Evelyn (MacIntyre) of
River Denys Cape Breton whom he met when he was playing the violin at
a Lodge Function at Hudson Lodge Thorburn in 1951. They were married
in 1952 and together they raised a family of four sons and four
daughters. They were wonderful parents, grandparents and
great-grandparents and they instilled a great love of
family.
Earle
proudly served his Church and his Community. He was a
Member and
Elder of Union Presbyterian Church, Thorburn, a former Church
Treasurer and he served on various Church boards and committees. He
was a member of Union Church Choir until the time of his death and
attended Church faithfully. In 1971 he was instrumental in forming the
Thorburn Improvement Association for the care and improvement of the
Thorburn Cemetery. He was a member of the Aberdeen Hospital Commission
for nine years and served as vice-chairman for four of those years. He
was a founding member of the Thorburn Fire Department and served as
its treasurer for twenty years. He very much appreciated history,
genealogy and all things Scottish and he was a lifetime member of Clan
Donald.
Earle was
raised in a musical family and he enjoyed playing the violin as a
volunteer at many functions with his brother Burns on piano and also
with the Pictou County Fiddlers of which he is one of the founding
members. He is a former member of the Stellarton Male Chorus and he
was a member of the Thorburn Band during his
youth.
The Masonic
Lodge was a very important part of Earle’s life. He has been
a faithful member of Hudson Lodge No. 77 Thorburn since 1951. He
served as Worshipful Master from 1962-1963 and Secretary from
1978-1988. In 1970-71 he was the District Deputy Grand Master for the
Pictou County District. He served the Grand Lodge of Nova
Scotia as Grand Historian, a member of the Advisory Board and Chairman
of the Board of Education. In 2001 he was elected Junior Grand Warden
of the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia, in 2002 the Senior Grand Warden and
in 2003 the Deputy Grand Master. He became the Most Worshipful Grand
Master at the annual convocation in June 2004. Within the Lodge he was
recognized by his peers for his ability to render the Masonic lectures
accompanying each degree word for word and in a manner that left a
lasting impression on the candidate. He was the recipient of several
medals and other honours for his dedication to Masonry and he
cherished each one.
Earle is
survived by his children: Anne (Philip Landry), Pictou; Robert, New
Glasgow; Kenneth, Yuzhno-Sakalinsk, Russia; Marilyn (Vickie), the
Ponds; Alan, Calgary; Helen (Byron) MacGregor, Big Island; Brenda
(Keith) Campbell-LaPierre , Truro and Hugh ( Janet) ,Halifax.
He is also
survived by twelve grandchildren: Lauchie (Meaghan) ; Alan (Megan
Fraser) ; Andrew (Kelsey) ; Brennan ; Krista Marie ( Greg) ; Daniel (
Josie Jordan) ; Kyle ; Anne-Marie ; Judith; Eldon ; Yara and
Sarah Marie . He was extremely fond of his two great-grandchildren:
Thomas George and Maggie Marie MacGregor.
He will be
greatly missed by his brothers R. Burns MacDonald of Thorburn
and Reverend D. Ross MacDonald of New Glasgow and by
numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
In addition
to his parents, he was predeceased by Sisters-in-Law Nancy MacDonald
and Isabel MacIntyre and by Brothers-in-Law Donald and Kenneth
MacIntyre.
Visitation
will be held at H.W. Angus Funeral Home New Glasgow on Thursday
February 22nd from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at
Union Presbyterian Church, Thorburn on Friday February
23rd at 2:00 p.m. with Rev.
Charles McPherson officiating. Donations may be made to Union
Presbyterian Church, Thorburn Cemetery Association or a charity of
choice.
www.angusfuneralhomes.com
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Earle C MacDonald 19292018.source
Death notice for the town of: Stellarton, Province: Nova Scotia