Obituary

It is with profound sadness that we announce the sudden and unexpected passing of our husband and father, Harold McCartney, in Guelph, at the age of 91 years. Beloved husband of Rita, with whom he shared 69 years of marriage. Loving father of Tim and Robin (Ivan). Predeceased by his parents, Elmer and Grace McCartney. He is lovingly remembered by cousins, nieces and nephews on both sides of his family. Harold grew up in a farming family in Puslinch Township, Wellington County during the hard times of The Great Depression. As a boy, he attended public school in one room schoolhouses at Brock Road School, S. S. #2 in Puslinch Township close to Aberfoyle, ON and S. S. #3 in Nassagaweya Township close to Moffat, ON. As a teenager, he attended MacDonald Consolidated School in Guelph. Harold had a love of dogs, horses, camping and cross-country skiing. During WWII, he participated in the children’s brigade of the Farm Service Force growing food for the war effort. He also played snare drum as an air cadet in the 121 Guelph Squadron which he graduated from in 1948. In 1947, his family moved into Guelph and lived in St. Patrick’s Ward on Alice Street. In 1946, he began apprenticing in the trade of motor vehicle repair at B&R Motors in Guelph. From 1948-1950, he attended the Motor Vehicle Repair School at the newly established Ryerson Institute of Technology in Toronto and completed his apprenticeship in 1951. He was very proud of his first car, a 1950 Packard. While working at B&R Motors, he met Rita (Dupuis), whom he married in 1952. Their early life together was full of parties, cards, dancing and camping with friends and family. They were early adopters of technology owning a black and white television set which brought lots of people over to their house creating many happy memories. They welcomed their son, Tim, in 1958 and their daughter, Robin, in 1960. Also in 1960, Harold became the new proprietor of the Fergus Scotch Bakery in Fergus, ON where the daily operations of the bakery were managed by his wife, Rita. During these years, Harold volunteered as an Assistant Cubmaster with the 7th Cub Scout pack of the Boy Scouts Association. He also began working as a Service Representative for Studebaker-Packard of Canada Ltd. which eventually took him and his family to Winnipeg, MB and Burlington, ON. In 1966, he accepted a position as Materials Manager with Sherritt Gordon Mines in Lynn Lake, MB where he and his family lived for 21 years. Harold was an avid gardener and spent many hours in his yard and his greenhouse. Curling, doing home improvements, enjoying the outdoors, volunteering as a Lions Club member, leading at his local Catholic church and presiding as the local magistrate kept him active. Family vacations included the east and west coasts of Canada, Hawaii and Scotland. On long winter nights, he loved to relax in his favourite easy chair with his pipe, his dog, a glass of Crown Royal whiskey on ice, and enjoy a crackling fire in the fireplace. After retiring in 1987, Harold and Rita moved south to warmer climes settling in Mount Forest, ON. He spent his time working in his yard with his dog close by, helping out at a local garden nursery, investigating the family genealogy, socializing with family and friends or going to auction sales. His yard was often on the local home and garden tour and many weddings were celebrated in the backyard. Holidays were a favourite time and he liked decorating his verandah for Christmas and Halloween to welcome people in. Harold was a capable, hard-working man with a dry sense of humour who loved a good joke and a laugh. He was a good, caring, decent and loving person who enjoyed people and good times. He was well liked and respected for his fair-mindedness and believed in letting things be to work themselves out. In 2014, Harold moved back to his birthplace of Guelph ON. Though he had significant health challenges at times over the years, he met these with stoicism and no complaints. If asked how he was, he always replied “Fine”. Harold was at his happiest sitting outdoors in the sunshine. He was a man of few words but his eyes would light up and he had a ready smile whenever he would see you. Everyone liked him because he was so easy to be with and care for. His loss is keenly felt by his family and those who really knew him and we know he is in heaven surrounded with love. Cremation has taken place with interment to be at Marymount Catholic Cemetery, Our Lady Immaculate Mausoleum. A celebration of Harold’s life will be held at a future date. Donations may be made to the Guelph Humane Society if so desired. Ecclesiastes 3 1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted. A tree will be planted in memory of Harold V. McCartney in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest, The Arboretum, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario.