Obituary of Earle C. MacDonald

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