Ian Ross MacDonald

MacDonald, Ian Ross, 92, Halifax, N.S., finished his journey on Friday, December 5, 2014 at home with his family. He was the son of Mary (McCarron) and William (Billy B.) MacDonald of Stellarton. He was predeceased by his wife of 34 years, Carol, his sisters, Mary Frances and Kathleen, brothers, Alexander (Sandy) and Donald. He is survived by his brothers, Leo (Halifax) and Edward (Ottawa) and sisters, Eunice and Rita (Stellarton), brother-in-law, John (Helen) Taylor, sons, Allan, Mark and Sandy (Donna), daughters, Mary, Maureen (Kenneth Morriscey) and Moira (James MacDonald), grandsons, Alexander and Colin, and granddaughters, Sarah, Meghan, Allison, Courtney, Ceilagh, Bridget and Carol. Ian was born in 1922 in Stellarton, N.S., the fourth of nine warm and wonderful siblings, with two devoted parents. He grew up during the Depression, which is perhaps where he learned a profound respect for any gift God chose to bless him with. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force on his 18th birthday, and went overseas in 1943 to serve as bomb aimer. On his second mission, his plane was shot down. He evaded capture for several months but ultimately spent two years as a prisoner of war. His story was recently included in a book by Nathan Greenfield, "The Forgotten". Immediately after returning home he enrolled at St. Francis Xavier University, then on to Pharmacy College at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He met his wife, Carol (Taylor), in Halifax and they married in 1951. He started his career at McNeil’s Drug Store on Quinpool Road. He eventually bought the business and it became MacDonald’s Drug Store, which he operated until 1980. He then worked with his brother Donnie who established MacDonald’s Drug Store in Antigonish, where he worked until his retirement in 1997, at the age of 75.

Ian was the ultimate Mr. Fix-It, a recycler way before it was cool. He delighted in the feats he could perform armed only with a glue gun and a Dremel Tool. He was fascinated by technology, and found an early love for music, and often combined the two by spending many Saturday afternoons leaning over the reel-to-reel tape recorder, and later the cassette player, compiling his favourites, which always featured Bing Crosby. Throughout his life, no matter what challenge he faced, he kept his faith in God and kept going. He always saw when someone was in need and found a way to help, and he will continue to inspire us to find our way.

Funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. at St. Agnes Church, Mumford Road, Halifax. Visitation at Snow’s on Lacewood Drive, Tuesday, December 9, from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kidney Foundation.

“Where the blue of the night meets the gold of the day, someone waits for me” – Bing Crosby