Obituary of Robert Edward MacKenzie

MacKENZIE, Robert E. Toney Mills Robert Edward MacKenzie ~ 81 of Toney Mills, formerly of Hopewell. It was with great sadness that we received the news from Glen Haven Manor that our father passed peacefully on the morning of August 22nd, 2023. Dad was a resident at the Manor for the past 18 months after surviving a stroke and 10 days later mom’s passing (February 2022). Anyone that knew Dad knows that he was happiest on the farm in Toney Mills with Mom. We are thankful to the staff at the Manor for keeping Dad safe for the past 18 months, and finding a lot of peace knowing that Mom and Dad are reunited. Hopefully dancing to some good old time music. He was born on August 9th, 1942, in the old Aberdeen Hospital, New Glasgow, Pictou County. He was the son of the late Ian and Violet MacKenzie from Stellarton where he grew up and had many lifelong friends. After high school dad attended the Junior Technical Institute in New Glasgow, graduating with his welding certificate. Dad spent a lot of time out on the boat fishing lobsters with Johnsey MacEachern over the years in Toney River. Dad started working at Sobeys in New Glasgow, when they got married in 1962, and later worked at the L Mart Grocery Store in Stellarton. He then made a career change to become a welder at Hawker Siddeley in Trenton and also worked in the “gun shop”, “machine shop” and on the “track”. He later worked at Maritime Steel in New Glasgow for approximately 25 years as a burner, welder, and fitter. He decided to return to Trenton Car Works from where he retired. Since Dad could never stay idle, he decided to work with Elbert Murray doing various construction jobs around the community. During this time Dad was involved with church activities and served on the Board of Managers. Dad also was a volunteer in the Eureka Fire Department. Back in the day, Dad enjoyed having friends over to the house in Hopewell and getting the guitars out with Helen Russell on the piano. Dad was musical himself playing the piano, mandolin, and accordion. He would always stop what he was doing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. He always found time to sit at the kitchen table for a cup of coffee (later he turned to tea) and a chat with anyone that stopped in. Dad looked forward to Chester Dewar’s nightly visit to the house in Hopewell, and then he would make his nightly phone calls to his other buddies to get caught up with what happened that day. Many times, random people would stop at the house for a welding repair of some kind. When they offered to pay, Dad would always say “don’t worry about it” and Mom would start squealing about the cost of power that was being used for all the repairs. In Dad’s free time if he was not in the barn working with the horses, he was in the garage building flatbed trailers or horse trailers, woods buggies or restoring his Farmall H tractor. He also built bale thrower wagons and metal staging. Once the grandchildren started to arrive, they all spent lots of time with Grampie in the barn or the garage. Grampie always had lots of helpers whether he wanted the help or not. However, they enjoyed all the time spent with him tinkering. When the great-grandchildren arrived, Dad also enjoyed their visits. Dad is survived by daughters, Michelle MacKenzie (Donald) of Hopewell; Patti MacKenzie Martin (Tim) of Brookside; grandchildren, Meghan MacKenzie, Donald MacKenzie (Tiffany), Keegan Martin and Hayden Martin; great grandchildren, Allison and Thomas Bradley and Eilidh MacKenzie. Dad is also survived by his aunt, Iola MacKenzie, Woodstock Ont; cousin, Murray MacKenzie, River John; Karen Mouris, Gordon MacDonald; sisters-in-law, Margaret MacArthur, Mary Clark, Beatrice Munroe, Martha Farquhar and Marie Langille and very special cousins, Leona, Jaunita, Janice, Phyllis and Teresa, all from Ontario. He was predeceased by his wife, Liz MacKenzie (2022); uncles, Boyd MacKenzie, Wendell MacKenzie, Ontario; brothers-in-law, Russell Clark, Ken MacArthur, Alvin Clark, Lewie Clark, James Munroe, Albert Clark and Hughie Langille; sisters-in-law, Shirley Clark, Catherine Goodall and cousin, Ian MacKenzie, Ontario. Dad loved all animals, especially his Clydesdale horses ~ Kelly and Dusty were dear to his heart. Spider Kitty was his special cat that he babied every day. Dad has had many adventures over the years. One of which we only know a few details, involved a goat. We know he bought a goat at the Truro Sale, and they had truck troubles and he ended up hitch hiking home with the goat. Dad had wonderful doctors over the years – Dr. Brad MacDougall and Dr. John Sapp in Halifax. Lawtons Drugs has always been a big support in Dad’s health care. Funeral will be held 2PM Tuesday August 29th, 2023 at St. David’s Presbyterian Church, Toney River, Pictou County with burial in Riverbank Cemetery. Reception to follow at the Toney River Community Hall. Donations in Dad’s memory may be made to Toney River Community Hall, Lisa Bain Gratto, 1831 Toney River Road, River John B0K IN0 or St. David’s Presbyterian Church, Beverly Patterson, 2203 Meadowville Station Road, Toney River, B0K 1R0.