WATERSIDE – Frederick Alexander Otter, 89, of Waterside, Pictou County, passed away on December 4, 2009 in the Aberdeen Hospital, New Glasgow.
Born in Trenton, December 9, 1919, he was the son of the late Alexander “Sandy” F. and Minnie B. (Graham) Otter.
Fred spent most of his working life at the Pictou Shipyard where he developed many lasting friendships. Fred, along with his late wife Vera, and son Bill and his wife Linda, built one of Nova Scotia’s premier pure bred Hereford herds (Spring Cove Farm), having many successes in and out of the show ring. In 1990 Fred was inducted into the Canadian Hereford Honour Roll of Canada. Fred was a past president of the Maritime Hereford Association, and of the Nova Scotia Hereford Club, and served a number of terms as president of the Maritime Beef Testing Society, in Nappan. He was also active in the Pictou North Colchester Exhibition, having served as president and director. During Fred’s presidency he spearheaded a fundraising effort for the construction of a multi-purpose ice arena (Hector Arena). Fred had many passions during his lifetime, including politics, farming, friends, and family. He enjoyed showing his cattle at various exhibitions, and going to and purchasing cattle at sales across Canada, mainly the annual Hereford sale in Jemseg, New Brunswick, which was one of Fred’s favourites, where he renewed old acquaintances. Fred and Vera looked forward to enjoying their annual tour of P.E.I. and Old Home Week. In his later years family and friends were most important to him, especially his granddaughters, Leslie and Debbie, and great grandchildren, Tyler, and Jorja.
Fred was predeceased by his wife Vera, in 2006; and sisters, Jen Scaife, Dorothy Hansford, and Marg Davison.
Fred is survived by his son, Bill (Linda), of Waterside; granddaughters, Leslie (David) Matchem, and Debbie (Mark) Stewart, all of Pictou; grandchildren, Tyler and Jorja Matchem; sisters, Ethel Fraser, New Glasgow; and Alice Rutland, Edmonton, Alberta; along with many nieces and nephews.
Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held 2-4, and 7-9 p.m. on Sunday in McLaren Funeral Home, Pictou. Funeral service will take place 2 p.m. Monday from St. David’s Presbyterian Church, Toney River, with Jacquie Ross officiating. Burial will be in Waterside Cemetery, followed by a celebration of Fred’s life at the Caribou Fire Hall.
In lieu of flowers donations in his memory may be made to the Waterside Cemetery, which was one of Fred’s passions.