WHYTE, REV. ROBERT E., BA, LTh, Ed - 1932 - 2014 - Miramichi - Rev. Mr. Robert Ellis Whyte of Tozer Ave., Miramichi, passed away at the Miramichi Regional Hospital on Thursday, October 30th, 2014 at the age of 82. He is survived by his wife of 59 years Carolyn (Bagshaw). Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia on April 23, 1932, he was the son of the late Dr. Earl F. and Evelyn (Ellis) Whyte. Besides his wife, he is survived by two daughters Mary Margaret Yates (Charles) of London, England, Heather A. Smith of Miramichi, and two sons Dr. Peter Whyte of Dundas, Ontario, and Andrew Whyte of Vancouver, BC.; eight grandchildren: Anthony, Nicholas, Carol, Scott, Timothy, Joshua, Jeremy and Lisa; and six great-grandchildren: Tanner, Tessa, Autumn, Alex, Jacob, and Abigail; one nephew James D. Haviland. Besides his parents he is predeceased by his sister Marion R. Haviland and brother Muir Whyte. He was educated in Halifax schools and graduated from St. Chad's Theological College, Regina, Saskatchewan, St. John's College, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Faculty of Education University of Manitoba. He was ordained Deacon and Priest in the Anglican Church of Canada (Diocese of Qu'Appelle) and served there and in Winnipeg. He served in the Canadian Armed Forces and was Chaplain to the Black Watch Regiment, including a tour in Cyprus. In the Diocese of Fredericton he was Rector of Holy Trinity, St. Martin's, and became Rector of St. Mary's, Chatham in 1969, where he was responsible for the building of the new St. Mary's Church. He resigned in 1976 and was received into the Roman Catholic Church in 1977. Following a year of graduate study at Devine Word Center, London, Ontario, he was appointed director of adult education for the Diocese of Saint John. A gifted teacher, he taught scripture throughout the diocese and developed RCIA formation teams. As diocesan representative to the Pontifical Missions he participated in the first joint North and South American Missionary Congress in Parana, Argentina, 1999. He retired in 2003. He was a member of the Miramichi Peace Keepers, first president of the Chatham Library Board, member of Miramichi Golf Club and Cross Country Ski Club. He was a member of Chatham AA and led the reconstruction of their facility.
Robert Whyte will be resting at Adams Funeral Home, 140 King Street, Miramichi on Tuesday, November 4, 2014 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Solemn Vespers will take place at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Chatham Head on Wednesday, November 5 at 7 p.m., visitation to follow until 9 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Michael's Basilica, Chatham, Thursday, November 6 at 11 a.m. Bishop Robert Harris presiding. Internment will be in St. Michael's Roman Catholic Cemetery, Miramichi. As expressions of sympathy, donations to Catholic Missions in Canada, Pontifical Missions, Chalice, Hospice Miramichi, Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or St. Michael's Basilica would be appreciated by the family. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Adams Funeral Home Ltd., 140 King St., Miramichi, telephone 773-3492 or messages of condolence may be sent online to www.adamsfh.ca