Mary Weir (Munro) Doane died in Halifax on February 17, 2021, Ash Wednesday, at the age of 92, leaving us with a long list of one liners that nobody knows when or how to use. Born in Truro, Nova Scotia on September 3, 1928, she was the daughter of the Reverend Kenneth M. Munro (d.1931) and Sarah Elizabeth (Williams) Munro (d.1984) From a young age, Mary loved physical activity. Much of her young life was spent at the Waegwoltic Club where she became an accomplished swimmer and then a lifeguard. She was a keen dancer and basketball player, captaining the QEH teams all three years of high school and winning provincial titles. In adulthood, she continued to play basketball with the Halifax Tartans and took up tennis, which she played at the Waeg into her 80s.

Mary received her education at Queen Elizabeth High School, University of Toronto (School of Physical and Health Education) and Mount Allison University. In the 1950s, she taught physical education at Queen Elizabeth High School and led hundreds of girls in intramural programs there. Coaching was her great love. In the early 1960s, Mary coached field hockey and basketball at Acadia University. She also headed the women’s Phys. Ed program at MSVU. Later, she continued to coach basketball in the Halifax Ladies League and coached the provincial women’s basketball team that went to Saskatoon for the 1977 Canada Winter Games.

A lifelong member of the United Church of Canada, Mary sang alto in St. Andrew’s United, St. Matthew’s United and the Chebucto Choir Singers.

Mary’s volunteer work included chairing the 1984 Women’s Recognition Dinner at the YWCA, chairing the residential campaign for the United Way for Halifax, Bedford, Dartmouth and coordinating the residential campaign for the NS Heart and Stroke Foundation. In 1997, Mary was invited to chair the 20th anniversary concert for the Chebucto Community Singers.

Mary was fierce and quick witted, organized and determined. She loved entertaining friends, coffee, going to the Waeg, wine, road trips with Herbert around this beautiful province, (little) Queensland Beach, CBC radio, redecorating her house, Andre Agassi, her beloved Halifax and most of all, family gatherings where she could be the character she was.

She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Herbert Thomas Doane and his family, her four MacVicar children, Joan (Rob Tremaine), Donnie (Lisa), Sarah (Chris Hicks) and Martha (Nigel Collinson); her grandchildren Andrew, Kate, Sarah and Caroline Tremaine; Neil and Priya MacVicar; and Alexandra, Emily and Sarah Beck; great grandchildren Kai and Hannah Tremaine and Victoria and William Lebans, numerous nieces and nephews and former son-in-law Danny Beck.

She was preceded by her sister Helen Beatty (2016), her brother K. Bain Munro (1993), Colin in infancy and former husband Neil MacVicar (2000).

Donations may be made to Bethany United’s Church Choir Music Fund or to the YWCA of Halifax.

A memorial service will be held at J.A. Snow Funeral Home, 339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax on Tuesday, February 23rd at 3pm. Due to Covid 19 restrictions space will be limited, please call 902-455-0531 to pre-register for the service.