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Raymond Robert MacGillivray

Raymond Robert MacGillivray

Passed on: October 13th, 2015

101. His mind was very alert but in the end it was his body that finally said, "I've had enough Ray, your spirit can stay here if you like but I'm well beyond my best before date "and with that he took his last breath on Oct 13th 2015, 5 days after his 101st. At the last, he was looking forward to meeting up with everyone on the other side and getting back to partying with his contemporaries. What wonders he saw in his lifetime, as a newspaperman, being surrounded by all the 'goings on,' witnessing the most exciting and innovative century in the history of mankind. He managed to live thru two world wars, the cold war, the Cuban missile crisis and 9/ 11,while simultaneously marveling at the invention of Planes, Cars, the potential of Nuclear development, Television, Space travel, Medical Advancements, Heart transplants (the 1st by Dr Christian Barnard whom his grandson is named after), as well as the one that most personally affected us all over the last forty years, the dawning and growth of the information and communication technology era. (He seemed annoyed with his son that he did not get him a smart phone on his 101st birthday griping that a baby could work one of those things.) Along this journey, Ray was a loyal and dedicated husband, family man and was community minded citizen. He was a long time Lions Club member, winning international award for his editorial prowess as Lions club bulletin editor. He was also a lifetime member of and later director of St. Andrew' s Presbyterian Church in St. Johns. He retired as pressroom superintendent from NL's Evening Telegram newspaper circa 1980, after 50 years. He was proud of his association with the founders and long time owners, the Herder family, then the Thompson family and now Transcontinental. He then spent time in Florida where among indulging other habits, such as his enjoyment of his "dark and dirty", (no doubt with, Frank, Tony, Mario or Nat King Cole playing in the background), he took art lessons and had his work sold at the Spurrell Art Gallery. Many of his friends were recipients of his blue jay pictures and his son has his "N.L Purity Product Clad dining table painting "already hung in his house. Ray loved curling, hunting and fishing especially with brother in law Dave and nephew Steve up on the Eagle in Labrador. Oh the stories, lol. He wanted to acknowledge the management and all staff at the Berkeley in Bedford N.S. who became his friends during his 6 year stay. He knew he had moments when, as one worker confided, he could be challenging, but that apparently is what endeared him to everyone, his determination, at his age to get what he wanted in a curmudgeonly, and yet charming way, lol. He is predeceased by his loving wife of 62 years, Sally (Benson), his three brothers, Bill, Herb and Ralph and his father Tom and mother Bertha, and a more comprehensive list of relatives and friends, way too long by now to list on this whole page. He will be remembered fondly by his son , Keith, (Claudine Haché), Janis MacGillivray, mother of his grandchildren Christiaan and Heidi (Glenn Hubley), his step grandchildren Genelle and Jean-Yves Martell (Jolene) Great Grandchildren Jordaan MacGillivray, Kiannah and Kamryn Hubley, and step Great Grandchildren Jorja and Jaelyn, and many other relatives and friends. Cremation has taken place. There will be one last gathering for Ray at a service in the Ronald A. Walker Funeral Home 13549 Peggys Cove Road, Upper Tantallon at 1:30 pm on November 5 with reception there afterwards. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Kirk Building Fund in St. Johns NL, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church (The Kirk) 76 Queens Road at Longs Hill St. Johns, NL A1C 6J9, or the Salvation Army. Online condolences can be made to www.rawalker.ca

 

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