Obituary of Gordon Edward Day

DAY, Gordon Edward - 88, 122 Old Sydney Rd., Port Hawkesbury, passed away peacefully on July 7, 2005, in St. Martha's Regional Hospital, Antigonish. Born on September 12, 1916, in Bras d'Or, he was a son of the late Vincent Day and Louise (Colvey) Day. Gordon joins his loving wife, Sarah (Long), married 61 years; daughter, Sandra; brothers, Wally, Eugene, Lawrence, and Hartland; sisters, Irene Leblanc, Margaret Nugent, and Melinda Ross. He is survived by his children, Gail (Joe), Ontario; Judy (Joey), Bras d'Or; Carmen (Cathy), Sackville; Eric (Rosalie), Louisdale; Eugene (Pat), Port Hawkesbury; Jimmy (Jane), Wendell (Jean), both of Stellarton; Janie (Gerald), Paul (Nancy), Rosemary (Glen), all of Port Hawkesbury; 26 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers, Joey, Bill, Les; sisters, Dorothy Serroule, Mary Juanita MacLean, and Betty Musgrave. Active in sports, Gordon first became known as a talented baseball player as part of the Sydney Mines Ramblers teams. In 1939 he was a pitcher for the junior team which won the Maritime championship and later coached and played on the intermediate team which played for the Provincial championship. What made his athletic pursuits more remarkable was the fact that he had lost a foot and part of his leg in a train accident at the age of 12, requiring him to use an artificial leg. His limitation didn't keep him from enjoying sports and playing and refereeing hockey. It also didn't keep him from joining the Merchant Marine in 1941 at the age of 21. A proud veteran of the Second World War, Gordon served in England, Wales and Africa. In 1958, Gordon moved to Mulgrave, accepting the position of Chief of Police and later as Works Superintendent. He also served as Mulgrave's Fire Chief, King Lion for the town's Lions Club, and he organized Little League Baseball and served on the board of directors for the town's first Credit Union. In 1969, Gordon and his family moved to Port Hawkesbury, where he served as the town's Works Superintendent, Deputy Sheriff for Inverness County, as a process server and as an appeal board chair for Social Services. Following his retirement in 1982, Gordon became even more involved in his community. Along with more than 36 years of service in the Lions Club and as a former King Lion, he was a dedicated member St. Joseph's Parish, where he was a Eucharistic Minister and president of St. Joseph's Parish Council. He was a lifetime member of The Knights of Columbus. He served on boards for the Strait Area Credit Union, Strait Area CO-OP, The Festival of the Strait, The Evergreen Club, was a devoted volunteer with the Port Hawkesbury Youth Band, Member of the Fire Department, Trainer of the Strait Pirates Junior B Hockey Club, and a proud member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch No. 43, where he served as poppy chairman. In 1996, he was honoured as Legionaire Of The Year for his contributions to the branch. His ability to listen and his wit and humour caused a chain reaction of love and fellowship that was a hallmark of Gordon's life. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and community. Visitation will be 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. today, and 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Sunday with a Legion service at 7 p.m. and vigil service at 8:30 p.m., all in Dennis Haverstock Funeral Home, Port Hawkesbury. Funeral mass will be held Monday at 2 p.m. in St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church with Father Bill Crispo officiating. Burial in the parish cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or Kidney Foundation of Canada, Nova Scotia Branch. Words of comfort may be forwarded to the family at: www.haverstocks.com