NEW GLASGOW – James Earl Proudfoot, passed away peacefully at the Aberdeen Hospital on April 13, 2011.
Born in Saltsprings, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, on July 21, 1919, he was a son of the late Gordon Proudfoot and Margaret (Matheson) Proudfoot.
Dad grew up on the family farm in Saltsprings and where he started into a lifelong business partnership with his brother John in the 1930s, later becoming known as J&J Proudfoot Limited, of New Glasgow.
On June 3, 1950, another great partnership began when Dad married Mom, Jean MacLeod of New Glasgow and they settled down on the west side of New Glasgow to raise a family. While always very busy and dedicated to his business, no project was ever too big or small for Dad at home. Whether building a piece on the house or the family cottage at Chance Harbour, or simply fixing a toy for one of the kids, Dad would turn his talented hands to any task.
At the same time he would willingly do his part in the community in the Kinsmen Club, the Pictou County United Way, Pictou County Boy Scouts, West Side Community Centre, and as a Trustee of the Kirk Church in New Glasgow. He was a former director of the Abercrombie Country Club and was particularly proud of the role he played in the rebuilding of the Bluenose Curling Club after it was destroyed by fire in 1989, serving as its president following the rebuilding. He also was a director on the Nova Scotia Resources Loan Board in the 1970s.
Jim’s business interests were varied. Over his career he was an innovator, and working together with John, they carried on a very successful poultry and chick hatchery operation, feed business, hardware store and farm equipment dealership. Along the way they also had an auto dealership, a construction business, and a feed and wild bird food mill. The original J&J Proudfoot partnership was parent to Proudfoots Home Hardware, Proudfoot Motors and Proudfoots Self-Storage. They were one of the early Home Hardware dealers in Atlantic Canada and Jim served for several years on the National Dealer Council for Massey Ferguson farm equipment dealers.
A lifelong Liberal, Jim’s activities in politics came from a sincere sense of duty combined with some fun and enjoyment. He participated in many federal and provincial political campaigns, and had a deep interest in the political and public issues of the day throughout his life.
Dad always enjoyed a good time. Curling, golf, fly fishing, boating, gardening, travel, puttering around his yard, and time by the pool were all activities that Dad enjoyed at various times throughout his life. He achieved several competitive curling honours and skipped the provincial masters championship team in 1990. He enjoyed nothing better than 18 holes of golf with Bob, Emerson, Bill or Wes over the years. His grandchildren added a new dimension to “Puppy’s” life, and he enjoyed all of their achievements, big and small. Dad had a very special and close relationship with his only daughter, the late Heather Proudfoot Barry, and would pay particularly close attention to her ATV News reports on the political scene, always calling her later for the “inside, inside” story.
Besides his parents, Jim was predeceased by his wife Jean, his daughter, Heather, his brother, Fred (Phyllis).
He is survived by sons: Jim (Janet), Kendall (Jenny), Frank (Tara), son-in-law, Art Barry, and grandchildren: Lindsay, Gillian, Jim, Joe, Michael, David, Emma, Ella; brother, John (Aileen); and sister, Helen Young (Ron).
The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Dr. Peter Lee and Dr. Gerry Farrell and the staff at the Aberdeen Hospital, Dad’s personal caregivers, the staff at the Palliative Care Unit, and the volunteers of the Palliative Care Society who provided such a caring environment over the past days.
Arrangements are under the direction of the R.H. Porter Funeral Home in New Glasgow with visitation Friday, April 15 from 7-9 p.m. and Saturday, April 16, 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. The funeral service will be at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church (The Kirk) in New Glasgow on Sunday, April 17 at 2 p.m., with the Rev. Richard Sand presiding. Interment following at Heatherdale Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jean Proudfoot Memorial Broomball Challenge (c/o the West Side and North End Recreation Centres, Box 411, New Glasgow, B2H 5E5), or to a charity of your choice.
Condolences at: www.rhporter.ca