McLELLAN’S MOUNTAIN – J. Francis Dewtie, of McLellan’s Mountain, passed away on Thursday, October 10, 2013.
Born on May 30, 1932 in the old Aberdeen Hospital, he was a son of the late Joe and Marg (Pitts) Dewtie.
Francis’ first home was on top of McLellan’s Mountain. After moving to Thorburn for several years, he was delighted to return to the mountain in 1956, only this time, closer to the Greenwood end. For many years he enjoyed planting and sharing potatoes with his family. Leaving home at 14 1/2 years of age to work for the Canadian Lumber Company, he worked alongside his father for four years in the lumber business. The next couple of years took him to the Greenwood and MacBain coal mines. For a short period he drove for Vets Taxi. In 1987, Francis retired from the Trenton Steelworks, after 23 years of service. Community involvement was important to him and he showed this by serving as president for six years to District 13 Recreation and Planning Commission. He volunteered for 15 years to help raise funds for the Ivor MacDonald Memorial Rink by holding horse pulls and dances at the East Pictou Fairs. He served on the St. Anne’s Cemetery Committee for 40 years taking pride in helping to make the cemetery a beautiful last resting place. Francis was a big supporter for 59 years of the Progressive Conservative Association.
He is survived by his sons: Edward (Donna); John (Lynn); Gary (Kathy); daughters: Susan and Rosemarie (Kenny); 13 grandchildren: Lisa, Denise, Jenna, Melanie, Jeff, Amanda, Marshall, Brian, Danielle, Chad, Samuel, Sylus and Hailey; 11 great-grandchildren; sisters: Margaret Ann (Buddy) MacDonald; Jo-Anne; Kenda; brothers: Billy, John, Frank, Seymore, George and Art.
Besides his parents he was predeceased by daughter Elizabeth (Herbie) James and infant children Denise and Robert; brother Wallace.
Cremation has taken place. Visitation Saturday 7-9 p.m. and Sunday 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. in the R.H. Porter Funeral Home, New Glasgow. Funeral mass 11 a.m. Monday in St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church, Thorburn, with Father Colin MacKinnon officiating. Burial of ashes in the Church Cemetery.
A request of Francis is that donations to the St. Ann’s Cemetery in his memory would be greatly appreciated.
Condolences may be sent by visiting: www.rhporter.ca