Obituary of Clyde Weldon McLearn

Age 87, passed away Saturday, May 3, 2014 at The Magnolia Continuing Care Home, Enfield. Born October 23, 1926 in South Rawdon, he was a son of the late Watson and Belle (Weldon) McLearn.Clyde was a part-time farmer for a number of years and did woodworking until his retirement. He owned and operated Maple Grove Campground and counts many campers as friends. He was a member of South Rawdon Baptist Church and caretaker of the Baptist Cemetery.Clyde enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, camping, fishing and boating, and was always ready to take family or friends to Long Lake or the Meadows picking cranberries in the fall. He enjoyed spending time with children, particularly nieces and nephews, whom he taught to respect wildlife and appreciate nature. He swam night and morning in Welner Lake from the day the ice was out far enough for ‘a good swim’ until it froze over in the fall.Family was important and he hosted get-togethers at Christmas and at the park in summer, and documented family history for the generations to come. In the last chapter of his life he made the Magnolia home, where he adopted staff, volunteers and residents as a second family. There he spent hours writing and publishing stories of his life experiences, giving booklets to family, friends and staff. He watched the trains and observed the wildlife outside his window, particularly the white-tailed deer he called the ‘three trespassers.’The family thank Magnolia staff for their kindness and the laughs, hugs and gentle care provided during Clyde’s last years.He is survived by sisters, Edna Curry, Doris Wile, Norma Collier and Bernice Lockau; by brother, Robert (Sally); and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by brother, Lester and his wife Shirley, brothers-in-law, Duncan Curry, Neil Collier and Harold Lockau; nephew, Brian Lockau; grand-niece, Shelley Collier.A family graveside service will be held in the South Rawdon Baptist Church Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, followed by a reception open to the community at 2:00 p.m. at the church. Donations in his memory may be made to the South Rawdon Baptist Church Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to DeMont Family Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 419 Albert St., PO Box 981, Windsor, NS B0N 2T0 (902-798-8317). Messages of condolence may be sent to the family by visiting: www.demontfamilyfuneralhome.ca