Margaret Gordon Cox

Our family is saddened to announce that Margaret passed away peacefully on October 7 at the age of 100. Margie, or MumC as she was known to family and friends, was born in Bridgewater, NS, on June 30, 1925, the older daughter of the late Frederick and Gladys (McGinnis) McPherson[sic]. She spent most of her childhood in Bridgewater and upon graduating from high school she attended Dalhousie University where she graduated with a B.Sc., and completed post graduate studies in Biochemistry, co-writing two published papers. She went on to work for the Nova Scotia Research Foundation studying seasonal variations of seaweeds and once a month she would ride her bike from Dalhousie to what is now the South End Container Terminal to collect her seaweed samples in bottles. Having located a prime collection spot, she would mark it with her red lipstick so as to locate it the following month.

She married Bill Cox in 1950 and raised their 4 daughters in Halifax. She enjoyed watching the family grow especially with the addition of the many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Memorable summers were spent at White Point Beach Resort where family reunions of four generations were held on a regular basis. She also rented a cottage in Hubbards for a number of summers which often overflowed with family visits. Prior to Bill’s passing, time in winter was spent in Florida on Captiva and Sanibel Islands where many sunsets were enjoyed at the J.N. “Ding” Darling Natural Wildlife Refuge with Bill, her camera and cocktails. She was well known for her homemade chocolate bark and Christmas fruit cakes.

Margie held leadership roles in many community organizations including: the Women’s Division of the United Appeal; Junior League of Halifax; IWK Hospital for Children and its Art Gallery and Sale; and the Canadian Red Cross in Nova Scotia for which she drove a truck during WWII while attending Dalhousie. She was a member of Neptune Theatre, Symphony Nova Scotia, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Dalhousie Alumni Association, Community Planning Association of Canada, Halifax Branch of Phi Beta Phi Fraternity, the Photographic Guild of Nova Scotia, the PC Party, St, Matthew’s United Church and later St. David’s Presbyterian Church.

Margie’s hobbies included anything Royal (including a succession of Welsh Corgis), stamp collecting, bridge and Skip-Bo. She had a passion for nature and photography, especially capturing birds on film. Her prints were featured in exhibitions as well as published in a book on seabirds of the world. She was a curler and an avid tennis player having won the provincial women’s doubles title in 1949.

She supported Bill in his legal career and particularly enjoyed travel throughout Canada and around the world during Bill’s presidency of the Canadian Bar Association.

She is predeceased by her husband A. William (Bill) Cox and sister Jean Macpherson[sic]. She is survived by daughters Jan (Tom) Houston, Ottawa, Peggy (Gary) Pierce, Lawrencetown, Ann (Darren) Booth, Wolfville, Sue (Doug) Roberts, Port Williams, 14 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

The family would like to extend their warmest thanks to Melville Heights and Parkland’s Drummond Hall for the care they gave MumC during her final years.

There will be a Celebration of Life on November 15 from 4-6 at Saraguay House (2310 Purcells Cove Road, Halifax) where family and friends are welcome to come together to share stories and memories of Margie.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hope for Wildlife or Souls Harbour Rescue Mission.