John Allan MacDonald

Funeral service for the late John Allan MacDonald, 92, Orangedale, Inverness County, was held May 26 in Forbes United Church, River Denys, with M. Dale Crawford, RDLM officiating. Mr. MacDonald died May 18, 2019, in Victoria County Memorial Hospital, Baddeck. Born August 31, 1926, in Sydney, he was the son of the late John Angus and Sarah Jane ‘Sadie’ (MacLean) MacDonald. He was a lifelong member of the Orangedale United Church and, with its closing, became a member of Forbes United Church, River Denys. He was clerk of session of the Orangedale United Church for 50 years, where he sang in the choir and was made an honorary elder. He started his career with CN Railroad in 1944, as a telegrapher. But given his young age of 17, they instead had him work as a caretaker in Florence for a few months. Once old enough, he worked in several communities around the Maritimes, but settled in Orangedale with CNR, taking over as stationmaster, when his father retired in 1960, until his own retirement after 44 years in 1988. He loved watching hockey, with the Toronto Maple Leafs being his team and baseball, where he’d be cheering on the Blue Jays. Growing up on the Bras d’Or Lake, he also enjoyed a feed of oysters and eels. He is survived by his son, Jack; three grandchildren, Natasha (Ron) Jamieson, Jason, Jacklyn; two great-granddaughters, Jaden, Savannah Jamieson; brother, Earl (Kathleen) MacDonald; daughter-in-law, Nancy; many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his wife, Marjorie; son, Randy; brother, Sidney (Carolyn). Memorial donations may be made to the Palliative Care Unit at the Hospice Society Victoria County, Baddeck. Online condolences: www.haverstocks.com