Murray John Hooper
Passed on: August 25th, 2017
It is with great sadness that we, the family of Murray John Hooper, 88, of Sydney River, announce his passing on Friday, August 25, 2017, at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Sydney.
Born in Sydney, he was the son of the late Charles and Elizabeth (Neald) Hooper.
Murray worked as a licensed auto mechanic, specializing in auto body repair, a talent he developed at a young age when, as a teen, he started repairing and modifying Ford Model Ts. Mechanics and body work propelled him into a long life as a jack of all trades but, unlike many with that title, he became a master of all. He constructed his first house before he was 20 years old and didn’t stop there. He could repair anything from automobiles to houses to appliances. He constructed bungalows in his yard for later transport to and assembly on site, built boats and fashioned beautiful furniture for many. If something was worth doing, he did it right.
Murray is survived by his wife of 65 years, Norma (Carson); daughter, Claire Rogers (Hector Morais), Blackett’s Lake; sons, Charles (Irene), Sydney, Keith (Kim), Halifax, Murray (Nurys), Costa Rica and Stephen (Marlene), Howie Centre; grandchildren, Jill, Paul, Deanna, Daniel, Cheryl, Charles, Kyle, Mark, Grant, Vanessa, Murray, Colin, David, Michael and Peggy, and great-grandchildren, Nalin, Rowan, Iris, Leo, Taya, Deja, Amari, Anna, Owen, Gabriella and Emily.
Murray was predeceased by his brother, Malcolm ‘Bill’; sister, Margaret ‘Peg’; son, Ross; daughter-in-law, Deborah, and granddaughter, Allison.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, August 29, 2017 at Sydney Memorial Chapel from 7-9 p.m. Funeral service will take place 11 a.m. Wednesday at United Protestant Church of Sydney River, with Rev. Dana Feltmate officiating. Interment in Alfred Smith Cemetery, Edgewater Drive, Sydney Forks.
The family would like to extend a special thank you for the excellent care provided by Dr. Peter Jackson and Dr. Susan MacLeod, as well as the pharmacy staff at the Sydney River Walmart.
Memorials may be made to the Arthritis Society, Alzheimer’s Association, or the MS Association.
Words of comfort can be sent to the family at www.sydneymemorialchapel.ca or e-mail sydneymemorialchapel@ns.sympatico.ca.
