Obituary of Gordon Edgar McLeod

McLEOD, Gordon E.

Pictou

Gordon Edgar McLeod passed away peacefully at the Maritime Odd Fellows Home, Pictou in his 87th year on April 19, 2019.  Gordon retired from a 35-year career as an Air Traffic Controller in the Canadian Armed Forces and returned to his ancestral home in Rockfield, NS in 1977.  Gordon married young, to Kathleen Weston, and raised five children. His career took them across Canada and to Europe where he took every opportunity to expose his children to experiences beyond what he had known as a child.  From skiing in the Alps to camping in the hills of Scotland.  His love of travel never ceased, and he was fortunate to continue to travel in his senior years. He was predeceased by his parents, Edith Mae MacLeod and Elwood Rae MacLeod. He is survived by his second wife, Adrienne Parker; brother, Allan MacLeod (Meryl); his five children, Robert (Mirthala), Laurie (Ian Thomson), Bonnie (Pierre Lapointe), Judy Connor, Kathie (Dave Gunn); and grandchildren, Amy and Jonathan Williams, Philippe and Catherine Lapointe, Chrystal, Meaghan and Craig MacLeod, Candice and Matthew Connor, Katelyn, Jethro, and Molly Gunn; and great grandchildren, Daivia, Deagan, Olivia, and Raiya; He was a much-loved father and grandfather. Gordon was always an active community member wherever he called home. After his military career, Gordon returned to Pictou County. He bought the old YMCA building in Pictou in 1980. This began his second career as entrepreneur and landlord. He was known to many for his kind, spirited heart and strong sense of justice. He would bend the ears of his MLAs on issues he felt needed to be addressed. Such issues included, pressing the government to erect a WWII Crash Site Monument on Dalhousie Mountain honoring the pilots who died. Gordon, as a child witnessed the crash, and as an air force veteran felt compelled to honor these forgotten soldiers.  Gordon was proud of his Scottish roots. He was a member of the Hector Heritage Quay and took great pride sharing that he helped launch the Hector.  He enjoyed participating in the re-enactment of the arrival of the Hector proudly wearing his kilt. He was an honored President of the MacLeod Clan and returned to Scotland to attend Parliament and share time with cousins. He created his own museum and welcomed relatives and visitors to his home in Rockfield (Auchencarin).  As a member of the St. Andrew’s Society he celebrated these traditions.  A long-time member of the DeCoste Center, Gordon could not get enough of the musical talents of the performers. He became good friends with Valdy Horshdal and it was his honor to host him and other maritime musicians.   Gordon made Stan Fest and Celtic Colors yearly “must do” events.  He was a member of the Scotsburn United Church where he joined the choir and found peace in sharing time with those in his community.  Gordon’s friends will celebrate his life on Sunday, April 28, 2019 at 2:30 PM in the Scotsburn United Church.  Burial will be in the Durham Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 2-4 and 7-9 PM on Saturday in McLaren Funeral Home, Pictou.  Donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society.  www.mclarenfuneral.ca