Obituary of Blair MacKinnon

Thomas "Blair" Arthur MacKinnon, of Westville, died suddenly from heart failure on July 12, 2014. An avid outdoorsman it seemed fitting that his last day resonated with the laughter of family and soaking up the sunshine of a beautiful summer day with many of the people he loved the most. Blair was born on June 17, 1964 to Arthur and Ann (Whooten) MacKinnon. His childhood and youth was spent in Westville with his two younger sisters, many friends and numerous family pets. Blair graduated from Stellarton High School in 1984 and later from what is now the Nova Scotia Community College Business Administration program. It was also in the Town of Stellarton that Blair met the love of his life, Caroll Baxter. Their love story spanning 33 years. They were married on an August day in 1986 surrounded by the many family and friends who will miss him forever. Blair was a master of many things but what he thought he excelled at the most was in the choosing of his partner in life and his three greatest accomplishments were the children they raised together; Ryan, Evan and Olivia. Blair had an interesting and varied working career that epitomized his many interests. He worked as Business Manager of the family owned Campbell’s Pharmacy in Westville along side his father Arthur for 25 years. After the sale of the Pharmacy in 2005, Blair turned his attention to his farm in Meadowville and also learning a new trade as a butcher and being employed by the Pork Shop in Denmark and Westville. His favorite but short career was as a lobster fisherman in Lismore. For the last three years Blair has worked for Michelin. He and Caroll recently moved from the farm back to his old stomping grounds on North Main Street, Westville to be closer to his parents. Blair inherited the genes of an animal lover from his mother Ann. He especially loved his dogs and raised many Labs at the Meadowville farm and adopted many more that needed a home. Blair’s favorite times were in the woods and in the brook hunting and fishing, often with his best friend and cousin Kent MacKinnon, his Dad and son Evan. The stories of their escapades hunting moose in Newfoundland, wild boar off the coast of Nova Scotia or the fields and woods of west Pictou leaves nary a dry eye. His keen observations of the world and his special sense of humor transformed the ordinary into hilarious “Blairisms” that will continue to roll off tongues for years to come. Blair will be dearly missed by his wife of 27 years, Caroll; his children Ryan and fiancé Tiffany Van den Enyden, Evan and partner Kelly Fraser and daughter Olivia and special friend Patrick Patterson; his parents Arthur and Ann MacKinnon; sisters Crystal MacKinnon Murray (Sean), Pictou, Lisa MacKinnon (Shane Sponagle), Scotsburn; nephews Benjamin, Mac, Jack and Michael, and nieces Georgia, Tess, Clare, Grace and Nora; uncle Clarrie and aunt Mary K MacKinnon, Westville; cousins Kent (Tina), Porters Lake, Jyl (Trevor), Cole Harbour and Sarah MacKinnon, Westville; father-in-law Jim Baxter; brother-in-law Jim Baxter Jr.; and sisters-in-law Cindy Martin (Wayne) and Chrystal Baxter (Richie). He was predeceased by mother-in-law Bonnie (MacKay) Baxter, Stellarton; grandparents, Thomas and Margaret MacKinnon and Arthur and Ella Whooten, both of Westville; grandparents-in-law, Jean Baxter, Stellarton and Florence and Ralph Martin, New Glasgow. Blair rested at Eagles Funeral Home, North Main Street, Westville with visitation on Wednesday, July 16th. Funeral and celebration of Blair’s life took place on Thursday, July 17th at 11 am at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Church Street , Westville with Rev. Jim Webber Cook officiating. Donations can be made to the Pictou County branch of the S.P.C.A.