January 10, 1925 – October 4, 2011. Neil Arthur MacIntyre, formerly of Fort St. John, passed away in Wetaskiwin Health Care Centre at age 86 following a brief illness. Neil was born in High Prairie in 1925 to parents Dr. Edward Lorne and Mrs. Grace MacIntyre (nee Brown) from Forest Ont. and Chicago Ill. respectively. His father was involved with the Tuxedo Military Hospital in Winnipeg during World War I. When the war ended and the services of Dr. MacIntyre were no longer required at the hospital, he moved his family to High Prairie where he began his own medical practice. The family’s first home was located just west of town where they remained until a drug store – clinic – surgery and home complex was built by Dr. MacIntyre in 1922. MacIntyre Park in High Prairie is named after Neil’s father. Neil graduated from Victoria Composite High School in Edmonton in 1944 and, after serving in the navy during the end of World War II, returned to High Prairie area in 1946 and ran MacIntyre’s General Store in Triangle, AB from 1947 until 1958.
Neil moved to the Peace country in BC and worked in hardware,
grocery and then automotive for many years. He raised his family on his acreage in Baldonnel were he enjoyed taking care of his five acres for 43 years until 2005.
Neil was known for his saxophone playing at dances and functions for many years around High Prairie and Fort St. John, at one point playing in a band with his two oldest sons. Years after retiring from playing, he was pleased to pass his prized 1930’s silver Buescher Aristocrat tenor sax to his grandson, Nathan Paynter.
Neil was predeceased by his parents, his sisters Jean, Betty, Sally (Forshner) and Dorothy (Turner), his eldest son, Ted and his nephews Ian and Donald Harley.
He is survived by Belle, his wife of 55 years, his sons Gord (Debby), Bob, and Wade, daughter Beth Paynter, son-in-law Don Paynter and daughter-in-law Gwen MacIntyre, sister Margaret (Harry) Harley now of Wetaskiwin, his grandchildren Christine(Ryan Watson) and Kelsey MacIntyre, Justin, Alicia (Wes Dunbar) and Nathan Paynter, several nieces and nephews and a large extended family.
Despite some health issues in his last few years, Neil maintained his strength of character, will and good humour through his final days.
He will be missed and fondly remembered.