Lorin M. Brehaut
1936-2020
Lorin MacPhee Brehaut passed away on September 17, 2020 at
his residence in Murray Harbour at the age of 84. Lorin was the son of
Thomas Whitney Brehaut and Elizabeth (Lizzie MacPhee) Brehaut. Lorin
was predeceased by his beloved wife Shirley Ann (Harris) Brehaut in
2016. He is survived by his children, James Stewart, Paula (Ted)
Maclean, Lorin Jr. (Sandra Strain), Lori (Stephen) Chapman, Scott, and
son-in-law John Slavin; brother John Brehaut (Sandra) sister Isobel
Vail (Ernest deceased); grandchildren Danny (Hannah), Sara, Shirley,
Rachael, Leah, Stewart, Ryan, Whitney, Logan, Chloe, Claire, Sydney,
Scott and Isabella; great-grandchildren Ellowyn, Ava and Nolan. He was
predeceased by daughter Lynn Stewart, grandsons David and Eric,
Shirley’s parents Jim and Gladys Harris and her siblings
Joan and Valda.
While Lorin passed away in the house in which he
was born, his life took him on a long, sometimes happy, sometimes sad,
but always loving journey. After completing his education at the
Murray Harbour school he attended the Provincial Vocation School in
Charlottetown where he was trained as a carpenter. His first job was
boatbuilding with Nelson Bell in White Sands. Seeking further
opportunity he moved to New Brunswick, to work on the construction of
Camp Gagetown. When construction finished, he embarked on a career
with Dominion Stores in Fredericton and Dalhousie. It is a great
testament to his personality and character that almost 60 years after
leaving New Brunswick he still kept regularly in touch with many of
his friends and co-workers from that time, including his friends
Dianne and Reg with whom he shared many emails and
calls.
Shortly after his arrival back home in the early
1960s he and Shirley married. They were to enjoy a long and loving
marriage, though one that was subject to challenge as two of their
children were involved in automobile accidents which resulted in them
becoming paraplegic. No such struggle ever stopped the parents,
children, or children’s children, from pushing on to achieve
their goals and exhibiting a positive attitude. The losses of Shirley
four years ago and of daughter Lynn within the past year were very
difficult for Lorin though he persevered through them as best he
could, always offering a smile and lift of the spirits to
all.
After he had returned back to PEI, Lorin briefly
tried his hand at farming but his love of the grocery business led to
him operating the Murray Harbour Clover Farm village grocery store for
many years. While doing so, he and Shirley purchased a soft ice cream
machine and started selling that and other fast food out of the store
window. This later evolved into Brehaut’s Restaurant, a
famed local institution for over forty years. Once the Clover Farm
store closed, Lorin worked as a meat cutter for several years, and
never missed a day opening up Brehaut’s when daughters Paula
and Lori took over the business.
Despite all of his other activities Lorin was
able to refurbish the family farmhouse which had been constructed by
his great grandfather in the late 1800s and turn it into a comfortable
modern home which became a favourite gathering place for family and
friends.
All the while, Lorin’s predominant
devotion was to his family and to his community. He served on the
Village Council, the local Fire Department and was a long-time member
of the Murray Harbour Cemetery Board of Directors. He was an avid
supporter of the Liberal party and worked behind the scenes at the
local level. He was a great raconteur and loved a good joke and
exchanging stories about some of the local characters and
traditions.
His passing leaves a void in the community and a
deep void in his family which will never be filled. He will be
remembered as a man without pretension who was deeply loved by his
immediate and extended family and highly esteemed and held dear by the
community at large who will miss both his presence and seeing him out
on his regular morning walk along the Cove Road. He will be
missed!
Resting at the Ferguson-Logan Funeral Home,
Montague. Because of Covid-19 restrictions a celebration of
Lorin’s life will be held at a later date. Donations in his
memory can be made to the Murray Harbour Cemetery (C/O Lily Baker, RR
# 4, Murray River, PE, C0A 1W0).
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Lorin Brehaut 19362020..
ferguson-logan Montague funeral home
Death notice for the town of: Montague, Province: I-P-E