December 14, 1920 -- June 12, 2019. Lois passed away at 97 in Camp Hill Veterans Hospital, Halifax, after a well-lived and accomplished life. Raised on an Albany farm, she took part in the work, joys, and challenges of rural life, which included, at the age of 12, spending a winter transporting logs by horse team. A top student at the nearby one-room school, Lois became a teacher after studying at Prince of Wales. During WWII, she worked inspecting weapons in a Sorel, QC munitions plant before becoming a corporal and drill instructor in the RCAF, "defending Saskatchewan from invasion," as she put it. After the war, she earned a BA at Acadia then was the first woman to earn an MA in English at Dalhousie. She married Charlie Thurgood from Cape Breton in 1949. Lois raised four children while teaching school in Wallace, NS region and in Windsor, ON, where she lived from 1959 until moving to Halifax in 2016. Lois was a popular teacher bringing creativity and humour to her classes. In retirement, she devoted herself to volunteer work, rising to the presidency of Save The Children Canada, while remaining active in her church. At 96, she made her last annual trip to her cherished Island home. After a full and rich life, Lois died peacefully. She will be missed greatly by her extended family and many friends. The daughter of Lt-Gov. J. George and Muriel (Boulter) MacKay, Lois was predeceased by husband Charlie, infant John William, brothers Sutherland and John MacKay, and sisters Audrey Waugh Muttart and Phyllis MacKay (infant). She is survived by her children, George (Ann Willoughby), Ranald (Maura Volante), James (Jennie Jiang), and Ann; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; her sister-in-law, Roma MacKay; and nephews, nieces, and cousins of many generations. Her family would like to thank the people of South Shore United Church, the Richard Point community, and all the Islanders and summer people who enriched her later years. The funeral will be at South Shore United Church, Tryon, PEI, on June 29, 1:30 pm. Visitation will be at Dawson Funeral Home, Crapaud, PEI, June 28, 6:30 -8:30 pm. Please donate to Save The Children in Lois's name.

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