Henry 'Bill' McKinnon
Born In: New Waterford , Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed in: SYDNEY, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: August 7th, 2011
It is with great sadness that we, the family, announce the passing of Henry Wilson ‘Bill’ McKinnon, Aug. 7, 2011, at Harbourstone Enhanced Care Facility, Sydney, surrounded by his loving family.
A resident at Harbourstone Enhanced Care, (Spanish Bay) for the past 13 months, Bill was always proud of being from New Waterford where he was born and always returned.
He worked most of his life as a coal miner and retired for Lingan mine in 1992. Prior to severe brain injury sustained after being struck by a car in 2002, Bill was an avid sportsman, but his true passion was a good dart game, at which he excelled and won countless awards. An enthusiastic traveler, he made countless trips across his beloved Cape Breton, mainland Nova Scotia and then on to Newfoundland, Ontario and British Columbia. Many of those trips were made after his “accident”, proof of his determination and strength.
He was a loving and devoted husband to Frances (Fougere) McKinnon, Sydney and the late Sabina (Ley) McKinnon.
Special dad to his children and stepchildren, Rose Marie (Clarke) McKinnon, Glace Bay, Noelle (Blair) Pyke, Leitches Creek, Tammy (Jeff) McKinnon, Truro, Billy Jr., New Waterford; stepchildren, Linda (Harold) Epton, Ottawa; Tony (Madonna) Loiselle, Sydney. Forever “Poppy” to Christopher Spencer; Tiffany Pyke; Natasha Dyer-Loiselle; Sarah and Victoria Epton; great-granddad to Machala.
He is survived by his sisters, Faye (Fred) McPhee, Glace Bay, Utah (Mario) Hogan, New Waterford; brother, Gordie, New Waterford and sister-in-law, Linda MacKinnon (late Howie), New Waterford; stepsister, Greta Kearney. Also survived by his mother-in-law, Josephine MacDougall, Lower Sackville; brothers-in-law, Paul (Mary) Ley, Sydney; Bob (Sam) Fougere, Halifax, Al (Darlene) Fougere, Powell River, B.C., Jerry Fougere, Vancouver; sisters-in-law, Betty (Gerald) MacDonald, Antigonish, Annette Parker (Jake MacKinnon), Stewiacke/Antigonish. The Ley family; brothers-in-law, Wilfred (Eileen) Ley, Sydney; sisters-in-law, Louise (Howie) McCallum, Sydney, Mary (Tony) Leudy, New Waterford, Isabelle (Ken) Smith, Toronto and many nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents and Sabina he was predeceased by his dear brother, Howie MacKinnon; stepsister, Theresa Marsh; in-laws, Florence (Ley) MacPhee-Hogan and Jimmy MacPhee and Alex Ley.
A funeral mass to celebrate his life will take place at Parish Church of St. Leonard’s, Mt. Carmel Ave., Thursday at 10 a.m. Rev. Ray Huntley will officiate. Burial to follow at Mt. Carmel cemetery. Reception to follow.
The McKinnon family would like to thank the staff of Spanish Bay for their patience and kindness toward Bill and his family over the past months and to all departments of Harbourstone Enhanced Care who helped make his stay with them more comfortable. We thank you all.
A special thanks to our children who always supported us and helped us so much, especially over the past nine years.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bill’s name to St. Leonard’s Parish “heating fund”, New Waterford or to St. Bridget’s Parish “building fund”, 114 Mill Village Rd., Shubenacadie, N.S.
Online condolences may be made by visiting www.twcurry.com.
