Mary (King) Muir
Born In: SYDNEY, Nova Scotia, Canada
Born: March 28th, 1922
Passed in: Sydney River, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: December 19th, 2011
Mary Melina (King) Muir, precious and beloved wife of the recently deceased Sen. Robert Muir, passed peacefully at Sydney River early on the morning of Dec. 19, 2011.
She is survived by her sons, Robert (Gail) and children, Robert and Catherine, Gary (Beverley) and children Sandy and Lindsey and daughter, Ruth (Ken) McKinnon and daughter, Lauren, all of Coxheath.
Mary was born on March 28, 1922 in Sydney Mines to the late Angus and Laura (Boutilier) King. She was the eldest of eight children and is survived by sisters, Marguerite Grabo, NB, Ruth (Joe) Strutz, AB and brother, Frank (Marilyn) King, ON and sister-in-law, Beth King, ON.
She was predeceased by her brothers, Angus and Gordon; sisters, Ann (Gerald) Cartwright, Violet (Nick) Thomas and Albert Grabo.
She was also predeceased by her stepfather, Fred Roper (Papa) a kind and gentle man who was special in her life.
When mum was a young girl, dad, who had recently returned to Sydney Mines from the US, happened to be the King’s paperboy. Gazing out the window one day, mum announced to her mother, after watching him for a time, that he is the man she would marry - and that she did on Feb. 22, 1944. After a Chalmers Jack Mission choir hymn sing where Robert was a member, he walked her home - their first date. There began a beautiful, loving marriage that lasted 67 years.
Mary was an active member in the North Sydney Adventist Church and their Ladies Dorcas Society. In her earlier days she was also active in many Sydney Mines community organizations especially the Harbour View Hospital Auxiliary. She was a devoted wife and loyal supporter of her husband during his many years as Member of Parliament and Senator.
Mary was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She had a warm and wonderful sense of humour and was truly liked by all who met her. Her beautiful sewing, knitting, crocheting and ceramics could be found in many homes in Cape Breton. She was famous for her Scottish dessert pancakes which were not only appreciated by her family but were a popular feature at many showers and church and community events. Her cooking and baking skills were well known and, with her experience of working at Josie’s Restaurant at Balls Creek, she used her abilities to operate with her husband a very successful restaurant of their own called Bob’s Diner on Pond Road in Sydney Mines in the 1940s. This was a very happy time in their marriage and they would often regale us with happy stories of their time there, where they worked hard and laughed so much.
There will be no visitation. A funeral service for family and friends will be held at the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home Chapel, 107 Pleasant St., North Sydney at 1:00 pm on Tues., Dec. 27 with Rev. Dr. Murdock Mac Rae and Rev. Ritchie Robinson officiating. Burial will follow in Lakeside Cemetery in North Sydney.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.
Online condolences may be sent to www.wjdooley.com.
