Ralph MacKenzie

Ralph was born March 5th 1934 in Dalhousie NB to Inez (Norsworthy) and James Robinson Mackenzie (Bob).

Growing up in Point La Nim, Ralph finished school in Dalhousie and was accepted to McGill University in Montreal, Quebec where he earned his BA & BD. He spent many years with the Presbyterian Church in Ontario until 1971 when he returned to Dalhousie to take charge of St John’s United Church. Although his path took him in another direction, he was active in his later years in the Knox Presbyterian Church in Campbellton and the Presbytery. Ralph spent the last 20 years living in Atholville with his wife of 63 years, Grace Phyllis. When he was unable to care for Phyllis at home, Ralph followed her to the Manoir Sugarloaf and later, Manoir de la Vallee.

Ralph will be best remembered for his large presence, his kindness, charity and compassion, his quirky sense of humor, his ability to tell a story, his insatiable appetite for good food, his piercing blue eyes and his bushy white beard. During the Christmas season children would often stop him in the mall to ask if he was Santa. Many will remember him as the man who took his young great grandson to McDonald’s playground to expend energy while he and Phyllis sipped coffee & chatted with the locals. Others will remember Ralph for the couple’s regular visits to Soup & Sweets. Some may still remember him for his long winded yet thought provoking sermons.

Ralph believed in God and family. He was a devoted husband to Grace Phyllis Mackenzie (nee Hayes), loving father to Gordon MacKenzie, Barrie Ontario and Heather Mackenzie Crimo, Irishtown NB (Ross). He is also survived by his nephew Robert McCallum (Vallerie) of Kingston Ontario, and their children Brooke, Daniel, Nathan & Caleb; granddaughter Stephanie of NYC and Alex of Kitchener Ontario, granddaughter Melanie of Notre Dame NB and his great grandsons Connor, Caiden and William. Ralph was predeceased September 5th 2017 by his only sister Ruth MacCallum (Grant) of Sussex, formerly of Moncton.

Funeral will be held at a later date.

The family would like to thank everyone who touched and enriched his life through friendship and prayer. A special thank you to the doctors, nurses and staff at the Campbellton Hospital, especially Carole and Michel for their compassion during his stay in palliative care.

We thank God for all the blessings in his life and for having blessed our lives with him.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Canadian Cancer Society.

Funeral arrangements are in the care of Maher’s Funeral Home, Campbellton.

(506)789-1699 or toll free (855) 404-1699 email: [email protected]