Byrne, Frederick “Fred” Bernard — age 81, of St. Croix, Hants County, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011, in the Halifax Infirmary, QE II, after sustaining a spinal cord injury from a fall. Fred was born Nov. 22, 1929, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Irene (Dugay) Davis. At an early age, he joined the Merchant Marines and as soon as he reached the legal age, joined the Royal Canadian Navy and retired as a warrant officer in 1969. He served as a gunner in both the Second World War and the Korean War. At the end of the Korean War, he sailed on the Imperial Oil ships, and later worked at the Dartmouth shipyards, and finally the Halifax dockyard, until his retirement in 1991. At the age of 20, in the month of March, he met the love of his life Lydia (Lee) George and they were married July 17, 1950, and had four children. He is survived by his sons, Michael (Kathleen) Byrne, Dartmouth; Robert (Tanya) Byrne, Halifax; daughter, Cathy (Charles) Illsley, Sweets Corner; 10 grandchildren and a great granddaughter; his sister, Joan (George) Creemer, Kentville; his special cousins, Dorothy Francis, Judy Inglis and Dennis Show; and his very close family friend, Tracy Schlosser. He was predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Lee (March 2010); his son, James “Jim” Byrne (May 1989); mother, Irene (Dugay) Davis (1939); adopted father, Michael J. Byrne (1957); sister, Jacquilene Davis in infancy (1939); and brother, Ivan Davis (2010). Fred was very active in the Masons, starting his Masonic journey when he joined Uniacke Lodge No. 128 in 1964. He became a leader in various Masonic bodies, including Grand High Priest of the Royal Arch Masons of Nova Scotia; Ill. Gr. Master of the Royal and Select Masters of Eastern Canada, and Most Worthy Grand Supreme Ruler (Hon.) of the Brotherhood of David and Jonathan; Order of the Secret Monitor. He was particularly active in the latter, bringing this order to Eastern Canada. He was also D.D.G.M. of the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia; Past Provincial Grand Prior of the Maritime Division of the Knights Templar Masons. He also belonged to the York Cross of Honour, The Red Cross of Constantine (The Rupert H. MacNeill Conclave), York Rite Sovereign College, and the Scottish Rite, Valley of Halifax. He also received The Order of the Purple Cross from the York Rite Sovereign College. Fred was also a proud member of the Hants County Branch No. 9, Royal Canadian Legion, Windsor. Cremation has taken place. Visitation was 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Friday, February 11, at Lindsay’s Windsor Funeral Home, 194 King Street, Windsor. Uniacke Lodge No. 128, A.F. & A.M. held a Masonic Service at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011. The Hants County Branch No. 9, held a legion tribute at 2 p.m. Saturday, followed immediately by the funeral service. The Rev. E.E. Hill officiated, followed by a reception at the Royal Canadian Legion building, 40 Empire Lane, Windsor. A private family interment was at the St. Croix Cemetery, St. Croix, Hants County. Donations in memory of Fred were requested to be made to the Canadian Paraplegic Association of Nova Scotia, Halifax Shopping Centre, Tower 1, Suite 317A, Halifax, N.S., B3L 4N9. To add your condolence, click on “Sign Guest Book” at www.lindsaysfumeralhome.com.