Early on the morning of October 9 at Northwood Centre, Phyllis Mae (Westbury) Maybee left us to catch up with her good soldier Gordon Maybee, who went on ahead last February and promised to meet her at the station.

Daughter of Arthur William Westbury and Ellen W, MacLean, Phyllis was born 1 December 1914 in Truro. Class Valedictorian at the Normal School, her first teaching post was in West Dover, where the salary was $300 for the year. She transferred back to Bible Hill just as World War II was beginning; Phyllis learned to drive ambulances and offered her piano skills at the Red Cross dances. There she met her Irish Regiment officer from Ontario, stationed briefly at Camp Debert. They were married 27 June 1942 and soon he was overseas.

At war’s end they went to Fredericton, where Phyllis ran a small grocery store to help Gordon earn his Forestry degree at UNB. Back in Nova Scotia with two young children, she returned to teaching and inspired students of all ages for 35 years, not only in the school system. As a volunteer she helped new Dutch immigrants learn English, and worked with special needs children during their post-retirement stays in Florida. Her innovative work as professor of mathematics at the Nova Scotia Teachers College helped to improve math methods all over the province. When Gordon’s work shifted to Halifax in the mid 1960’s, Phyllis took on another challenge, teaching primary at the School for the Blind.

The overarching theme of Phyllis Maybee’s life was one of respect and concern for the earth and all its people. From early years as a Young People’s leader, she was always involved with church activities: CGIT, Sunday School, UCW, Bible study, Berwick Camp. A prolific script and letter-writer, she was involved in many social justice campaigns and was quick to let politicians know if they fell below standards of fairness and truth.; she also served with the Consumers Association of Canada. A painter, gardener, creative seamstress, baker of cookies for new neighbours or shut-ins or eager young ones, birdwatcher, lover of nature (even snakes!), Phyllis showed her children and her many pupils loving ways to honour the environment and each other.

Phyllis is survived by her daughter Janet (Sheet Harbour Passage), son Ross and his wife Donna (Halifax), five grandchildren and a great-grandson, brother-in-law Douglas Maybee (Elizabeth) and sister-in-law Hazel Parks of Truro, brothers-in-law Lloyd and Keith Maybee in Ontario.

Family and friends are invited to gather for a memorial at Erskine United Church, Glenholme, on Friday October 16 at 11 a.m., followed by reception and nourishment in the hall. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Colchester Community Funeral Home; there is no visitation by Phyllis’s request. Though she loved flowers, she would be perturbed if anyone spent money on them instead of perhaps giving a donation to Erskine United, to Berwick Camp, to Amnesty International or any good works ongoing to raise the spirit of humanity.

Her spirits, and those of her grateful family, have been raised and sustained by the generous care given her on 8 Centre. All the staff deserve our deep thanks and praise; in particular, the support of Nurse Practitioner Cathy Misener, Dr. Cathryne Meehan, Kathy Baker (LPN) and the hospice team has been invaluable. Blessings!