Obituary of Harold James MacPhie

It is with sadness that we, the family of Harold James MacPhie (Harold Jimmy) of Cape George, Antigonish County announce his peaceful passing at home on the morning of Friday, March 25th, 2022 surrounded by loved ones, after a long, hard battle with COPD.

He was a lifelong resident of the Cape and a permanent fixture in the picture window or tinkering in the garden in the yard along the 337. 

Born in Antigonish he was the eldest of nine children born to the late Harold and Louise (MacInnis) MacPhie of Ballantyne’s Cove. At a young age, he went to live with his MacPhie family on the farm. It was here he developed a great love of horses, sheep, “a good dog”, and working in the woods cutting wood and shearing Christmas Trees. Although he fished over the years, his true love, his ‘happy place’ was the land around him. He was sharp witted, an avid reader, enjoyed the Herald every day, horse magazines, the Rural Delivery and had a great interest in politics. Papa always enjoyed a cup of tea and a piece of pie or a sweet treat. He particularly loved an endless supply of gum and chocolate on hand, a little sass, a daily drive to the wharf for ice cream at the canteen and to chat with his cronies at the Interpretive Center on summer evenings. He made sure the potatoes were planted each spring. He was a wonderful cook, and enjoyed playing TV Bingo. He had wonderful memories of the local people and enjoyed reminiscing about who was connected to whom. He attended many local Ceilidhs and had a deep love of Scottish music.  He was a fierce and loyal supporter of the ‘Maple Leafs’. He fondly talked about his travels to work ‘up North’ and to Toronto as a young man. In years past, he participated at the local horse pulls and shows. Besides his family, his two greatest accomplishments were his sobriety of 46 years and the end of smoking. 

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Patsy (Neary), sisters Gladys (Jimmy) MacGillivary, William’s Point, Anne (Ray) MacDonald, Arisaig, Doris Fox, Chicago, Illinois. 

Left to mourn and enjoy many sweet memories of Papa are children Gail (Craig) Chisholm, Stuart (Susanne) and Mary, grandchildren Keegan (Janine), Eilish, Lauchie, Nolan, Meagan, Rossie and Maisie and many nieces and nephews. 

He was predeceased by his brothers Leonard, Billy, John M., sisters Joan MacEachern, Janet Murphy, dear Aunt Peggy MacPhie, brothers-in-law Bobby and Geno Neary, Carl Murphy, Ron Fox, Malcolm MacEachern and sisters-in-law Maggie MacDonald and Debbie MacPhie.

The family would like to express sincere gratitude to Dr. Brian Steeves, his family doctor for over 50 years, Dr. Mike MacKenzie,  and the staff of the VON, especially Melinda Crawford, Amy Collins, and Tracy MacKenzie. 

Cremation has taken place. There will be no visitation. Funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, March 29th at 2:00 pm in Holy Rosary Church, Ballantynes Cove, Rev. Andrew Boyd presiding. Burial in the Parish Cemetery at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to the Palliative Care Unit at St. Martha’s or Holy Rosary Cemetery fund.