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Cecil “Keith” Coleman
January 27, 1946 –
February 18, 2025
It is with deep
sadness that we announce the passing of Keith Coleman of Black Rock,
Kings County. Our beloved husband, father, grandfather,
great-grandfather, uncle and friend passed away peacefully in his home
after a lengthy battle with heart and kidney disease.
Keith grew up in
Woodville, Kings Co. He and his late brother, Sonny and their
life-long friends, Dale Porter, Steve Harris, the late Larry Misner
and the late Gary Melanson, did everything together. They spent their
youth buying and building cars, hunting and fishing, playing softball,
and working together. These men were never far apart.
As a young man Keith
worked within the community of Woodville, doing forestry and farm work
for the late David Lacey and the late Clark Simpson. He would later
work as a mechanic for the late Oscar Carty. These three men were like
family and watched Keith’s own children grow, there are so
many wonderful memories.
Later in life Keith
worked for the Department of Transportation alongside his brother
Sonny and their Uncle Howard Hutt. He would retire after 25 years due
to health concerns.
It was in Woodville
that Keith would meet the love of his life, Dawn (MacDonald) in the
fall of 1966. Four years later they married and had two daughters.
Their adventures in life would eventually take them to Black Rock
where they raised their family.
Keith had many
interests and hobbies. He had a passion for animals and the great
outdoors. He always had hunting dogs that he trained and adored. Keith
was an accomplished woodsman, an avid hunter with a vast knowledge of
guns, a fisherman, and trapper (in his youth). Keith had taken many
hunting trips with friends and family over the years. He and his close
friend Danny Gould went to Newfoundland on a moose hunting trip, it
was a highlight in his life.
He had a deep
appreciation and respect for everything that the wilderness has to
offer. He was a conservationist in his own way and instilled these
values and shared his love of nature with his family for generations
to come. Hunting, fishing and camping were just some of the adventures
he shared with his family until his health began to fail. It was with
the help and support of close family friend Kevin Perry that he was
able to go hunting one last time in the fall of 2024. Thank
you.
Keith also LOVED cars.
Over the years he rebuilt many classic cars, a 1967 Chevelle being one
of his favorites. He had a passion for all vehicles, he could fix or
build anything. It was his love of motors that sparked an interest in
Military History at a young age. He knew everything there was to know
about planes, ships, tanks, jeeps, weapons, etc. He was quite a war
buff with an impressive collection of books pertaining to military
vehicles and historical events.
Music was a huge part
of Keith’s life. His late brother Sonny was a musician and
although Keith never played an instrument he had a wonderful singing
voice. He loved country music, especially classic country. Hank
Williams Sr. was his all-time favourite. Closely followed by Jim
Reeves, Boxcar Willie, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline and The Louvin
Brothers, just to name a few. As Dawn and Keith raised their children
there was always a record playing, Hank Sr. became a family favourite.
Country music has gotten our family through the last few months, and
we hope that Keith and Sonny are reunited once again and singing a
tune.
After retiring from
the DOT, Keith spent his time in the woods, working in his garage and
with family and friends. He could often be found having coffee at the
Somerset Market with his fellow DOT retirees and close friends.
Although he loved his Red Rose tea, he drank that coffee day in and
day out, having lots of laughs and making wonderful memories with his
friends. These were some of his best times as he got older, we
appreciate every one of you that shared in this time of his
life.
Keith will always be
remembered for his sense of humour, his love of a good-hearted
practical joke and his willingness to help anyone in need, whether he
knew them or not. He will also be remembered for being rather feisty,
never backing down from the challenges he faced, and for standing his
ground for what he believed in. He will be deeply missed by anyone who
knew him within our neighbouring communities.
We have many people we
want to thank and give recognition to.
In 1998 Keith and his
family would meet Greg and Belinda Pulsifer, and their family.
Throughout the years our two families would become one very large
extended family, sharing all our monumental life events, good and bad.
Spending holidays, birthdays, and every celebration in between,
together. Keith loved each one of you with all his heart, as we all
do, so very much. Thank you for being by his side throughout his life,
until the very end.
We would like to thank
and express our love to his life-long childhood friend Dale Porter.
You were like a brother to both Keith and Sonny. The decades of
friendship meant so much to him. The calls and visits, especially over
the last months, always brought a smile to his face.
We would like to thank
Larry Abbott for his years of friendship as well. Meeting as new
neighbours Keith and Larry formed an instant and lasting friendship.
All the years having coffee at the market, all the calls and visits
meant so much to him, and his family.
We want to extend our
thanks and appreciation to all of his friends who called and came to
visit these past months, particularly his DOT and Somerset Crew. Each
of you played an important and cherished role in his life for many
years.
A special thank you to
Allister Keddy for all the visits and for always making sure the snow
was plowed, and thank you to Charlie Keddy for all of his hard work.
We appreciate everything you have both done for Keith and his
family.
A special thank you
goes out to the staff at NAPA, not just for the wonderful service, but
for the decades of friendship, entertainment and great laughs. Keith
would stop in just to chat when he was in town after he retired. Those
moments meant so much and brought him great joy.
A special thank you to
the staff at Larry’s pharmacy. He thoroughly enjoyed coming
in to pick up his medications, as crazy as that be. He adored you all
and always loved the chats and laughs you shared.
Thank you to
Keith’s sisters and their families.
Thank you to his
sister Christine (Coleman) Pulley and her late husband Wes for always
visiting when you could, and for the endless hours of phone
conversations over the years. Thank you to your sons who always took
the time out of their busy lives to visit him every time he had to
stay at the Halifax Infirmary, those moments meant so much to him and
his family. We love you.
Thank you to his
half-sister Netti Arseneau, and husband Gerry for first finding your
brother, and then becoming such a huge part of his life with Dawn. All
the calls and the trips to New Brunswick, and you to Nova Scotia will
always be cherished family memories.
A heartfelt thank you
to his cousin Rosemary and her husband Wayne Veinot. He could talk for
hours on the phone with you both, the many visits and cups of tea over
the years meant so much to Keith, he loved you both very
much.
A heartfelt thank you
to his cousin Kim (Hutt) Fraser and her late husband Clifford who
always opened their home in Stellarton to our entire family for
weekend visits. Kim, who never forgot his birthday and also called to
check in with Keith. He always thought the world of you and
Clifford.
We would like to
express our sincerest gratitude to the wonderful staff at the VON and
Palliative Care. The personal care workers, LPNs, RNs, and Palliative
Care doctors made it possible for Keith to remain at home with his
family. Their exceptional care meant the world to us, your job is not
easy, or for the faint of heart, we appreciate what you have done for
Keith and his family.
A special thank you to
Dr. Matt Sabean, not only Keith’s family physician, but a
friend who shared in his passion for the great outdoors. The home
visits brought light into his darkest days. We will be forever
grateful.
Keith was predeceased
by his father, Cecil O’Neil and his mother, Annie (Dodge)
Coleman; his brother, Sonny Coleman and his beloved wife Leah (Fraser)
Coleman; his brother-in-law, Ron McCann; and brother-in-law, Weston
Pulley.
He is survived by his
beloved wife of 54 years, Dawn (MacDonald) Coleman, Black Rock;
daughter, Julia Coleman, Black Rock; daughter, Carol Coleman (Robbie
DeEll), Millville; grandson, Warren DeEll, Millville; granddaughter,
Allyson (Coleman) Hiltz (Jamie Hiltz), and his beautiful twin
great-granddaughters, Violet and Bridget Hiltz, all from
Waterville.
Keith is also survived
by his sister, Christine (Coleman) Pulley, Smiths Cove; sister, Jessie
(Coleman) McCann, Middleton; mother-in-law, Irma Maxwell, Kentville;
brother-in-law, Ken MacDonald (Olivia), Regina, Sask.; brother-in-law,
Peter MacDonald (Jackie), New Germany; sister-in-law, Bonnie
(MacDonald) Lockhart (Eric), Kentville; many cousins and nieces and
nephews.
Keith was born into this
world on a wild wintery day and he left us in the same fashion, we
expected nothing less.
We will love you always, and
forget you never….and yes Papa, we will check our
oil.
There will be no
funeral at Keith’s request. A celebration of life will take
place in the spring. Cremation has been entrusted to the White Family
Funeral Home, Kentville. Donations can be made in Keith’s
honour may be made to Hope for
Wildlife.
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2025
Death notice for the town of: Kentville, Province: Nova Scotia
death notice Cecil Keith Coleman 2025
obituaries notice Cecil Keith Coleman 2025
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Cecil Keith Coleman 2025 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
