Edie has left Glace Bay.
Edie MacLeod widely respected reporter departed peacefully from the town she loved in the early hours of the evening on May 5, 2009 at 20 Currie St., the only home in which she lived.
Born Edith May Wilson, May 15, 1912, in Glace Bay, she was predeceased by her mother, Elizabeth (Wilson) Roy and stepfather, John A. Roy.
At 17, she had been accepted as a student at the Glace Bay General Hospital School of nursing, but following the death of her mother abandoned her future nursing career in favor of finding work at Samuel’s Meat Market thereby enabling her to maintain the home for her half sister and stepfather. Her skill and love of writing was afforded an opportunity to grow when at 24 she was made aware by Charlie MacLeod, local bookstore proprietor that a position of reporter was available at the Glace Bay Gazette. Her explanation of the difference between the Lord’s Act and the Lord’s Day Alliance Act won her the position.
Under the guidance of Joe Hines she wrote about all aspects of news from outdoor activities and sports to bridal showers, weddings, birthday parties and local theater productions. Her’s was a well respected “byline”
She left the newspaper to concentrate on motherhood at the birth of her first daughter. After the arrival of her second daughter she became the Glace Bay correspondent for the Halifax Herald.
In this position she also wrote many feature stories, one in particular, about a Glace Bay girl working in the Northwest Territories, was a full two pages with pictures.
Four years after beginning at the Herald her son was born just a few minutes after witnessing the two daughters take part in the church Christmas concert.
After nearly 20 years writing for the Herald and spending some time at office work her next reporting venture was “Shopping Round with Edie” a feature of the Cape Breton Post. This position afforded her a vehicle which was fortuitous because at 58 she had first earned a drivers license. During the fifties and sixties she was Norman Lipshutz’s proclaimed “Right Hand” as editor of the Cape Breton Mirror and later the Atlantic Mirror.
When Ken Cotter began “The Coastal Courier” a door opened for her “dream job”. There she had free range in her column “Edie’s Ramblings”, proofread the entire paper and wrote whatever needed writing.
The “Down Memory Lane”, a two page picture spread was her idea with original pictures from her snap albums which caused interest in the paper to balloon and be sent to such places as New Zealand.
The gift of a camera at age 10 opened the world of photography and a passion grew. Saving every picture she took in snap albums provided the magnificent opportunity for “Down Memory Lane”.
She and others of her age formed a camera club investigated developing, printing, portrait taking, lighting, silhouette picture taking and many other photographic skills. There were many times when Leslie Sheddon called on her to take his big press camera to cover an event when he could not.
An unquenchable thirst for knowledge afforded her forays into many avenues of life. In the late forties when the York Street Extension Garden Club was formed she was there. As a member she was soon found planting gardens all around town with seeds and bulbs left unsold by the local stores. This included the one at the bottom of the mine in the Miner’s Museum. The scrap books she compiled yearly for the club consistently won awards. As the long time president of what had become the Glace Bay Garden Club she was renowned for the vast amount of knowledge she amassed and would impart willingly to all who would listen especially to members of the Junior Garden Club which she hosted in the back yard and awarded periodically for her contribution to gardening.
As member of the Art Group from its inception her skill as an artist grew and many of her pictures were shown and sold. Attending artist’s workshops brought her in contact with many prominent artists among whom her favorite was DeGarth.
Bird watching became another intensive interest and having devoured the bird books, was able to identify new species in seconds while others debated.
Again as long time president of the Cape Breton Chapter of the Bird Society she, was able to accommodate the occasional out of country visitor on a bird watch.
Possessing a magnificent memory she retained and used all of what she read as she was able to read before she went to school and she read every word that passed before her eyes.
An independent spirit from an early age, Edie investigated every religious denomination in Glace Bay and chose to be welcomed into the Baptist faith at the age of sixteen, eventually returning to the United Congregation at Knox.
The outdoors was her venue and long walks with her saw many forays into bogs, woods, marshes, brush and the like in the quest for answers to “what is there?”.
If outdoors was her venue, skating and skiing were intense passions and she encouraged all to join her. Time on the blades was pure joy and her skating style was a joy to watch. When someone gave her old skis and boots another joy grew which went undaunted when taunted by calls “you’re wearing your fathers Pit Boots”.
Edie’s compassion surpassed all else. She championed the downtrodden and the underdog above all else, never tolerating harsh words about anyone or anything.
Known also as an animal lover and healer many wounded creatures were brought to her door and stayed until well; sometimes caged and sometimes not. Healthy creatures visited as well including a raven and a baby saw-whet owl.
Edie’s contributions have been widely recognized and awards presented from Green thumb Award – N.S. Garden Club; Business & Professional – Woman of the Year; Lescarbot Award; Centennial Medal; Queen’s Jubilee Medal.
Edie also found time to become proficient at tatting, knitting, crocheting and needle punch all the while keeping the home fires burning and the family fed.
Edie was the last member of a very small family. In addition to her parents she was predeceased by her estranged husband, Gordon F. MacLeod; her son, Charles Wilson; her elder daughter, Averil Jean Shepherd; her only sibling, Jean Lind and brother-in-law, Evan MacLeod.
She is survived by long time & dearest friend Katie MacDonald, younger daughter Judith Anne, sisters-in-law Vera MacLeod, Janet (Warner) MacLeod; sons-in-law, Billy Shepherd, John Murley (former); grandchildren, Steven and Marlene; Derek Shepherd, Tracey and Johnnie Pierre, all of Oyster Cove and Greg Murley of Fort McMurray. Great-grandchildren Kendyl and Shawnee Shepherd, Kaitlyn (with whom she shared her birthday), Bretton and Devon Pierre; nieces, Rilla, Barbara, Nora, Catherine, Laura and Lesie; nephews, David, Brian and Gordon.
One of Glace Bay’s biggest “Bay Boosters”, Edie’s love of Glace Bay – “Her” Town – was reflected in all she wrote.
Cremation has taken place and arrangements have been entrusted to Patten Funeral Home, 71 Union St., Glace Bay, 849-7520.
Funeral Service for the late Edith MacLeod will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2009 at Knox United Church, Glace Bay with a reception to follow.
The family asks to plant flowers in memory of Edie.

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