Archie Alexander
Born: August 17th, 1925
Passed on: November 9th, 2008
'Archie A.' MacNeil Creignish After squeezing every second out of every minute of the day, Archibald Alexander 'Archie A.' MacNeil passed away on Nov. 9, 2008, at the age of 83. He was a longtime resident of Creignish and loving husband of Martha (O'Connor) for 52 years. Archie A. embodies Cape Breton culture and tradition as a member of the Cape Breton Fiddlers' Association. Along with his good friend Frankie MacInnis, he regularly attended local dances, concerts and ceilidhs especially in West Mabou and the Judique Interpretive Centre, where he danced his last square set. Archie was an avid sports fan, playing baseball for the Inverness Ravens and the Co-ops as a young man and was a founding member of the Creignish Minor Baseball program. He had a passion for horse racing and proudly cheered on the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles and the New York Rangers, whose games he followed without fail. Born to Dan C. and Flora (MacIsaac) MacNeil on Aug. 17, 1925, in Inverness, Archie A. was fiercely proud of his close family, his children, Geraldine (Garry Lavallee), Sandy (Peggy MacKinnon), Curtis (Sharon Tessier), Glen (Anita Rankin), Warna (Henry Brenning) and Morley (Charlotte MacKenzie); 16 grandchildren; sister, Margaret 'Pecka' (John R. MacDonald); brothers, John A. 'Gicks' and James (Jane). He was predeceased by sisters, Hughanna 'Loupie', Kaye and Sadie, brothers, Dan C. and Mickey. He was honoured to be part of his community, its traditions and his neighbours who he loved so. Archie served with the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserves from 1943-1946. He saw action in the United Kingdom and the North Atlantic during the Second World War. He served on the HMCS Eastview in the North Atlantic and the HMCS Uganda in the Pacific. He was a member of the Port Hawkesbury Branch No. 043 Royal Canadian Legion and the Canadian Corp of Commissionaires. Visitation in Port Hawkesbury in Greene's Funeral Home today (Wednesday) from 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral at 2 p.m., Thursday in Stella Maris Church, Creignish. Donations to Heart and Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia or charity of your choice. www.greensfuneralhome.ca 'He danced the last set.'
