Obituary of Finlay R. MacDonald

Finlay Roy MacDonald passed away on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, following a stroke in January. After being raised on a Huron County farm near Lochalsh, Ontario, Finlay entered the teaching profession which took him to Chatham, Ontario in the late forties. He lived a long and healthy life there and remained independently in the house that he built for over 50 years until 2005. For the past 4 years he had been a resident of the Chatham Resort. He lived to the wonderful age of 96. He had a full life as a father, teacher, and a part-time farmer. He was a graduate of Stratford Normal School and gained his training for industrial arts in Hamilton. His teaching career took him to the woodwork shop at the Chatham Collegiate Institute (CCI). He moved to John McGregor in 1957 when that school opened. He eventually became the Technical Director before retiring in 1973. Always the pragmatist, Finlay spent his pre-retirement years working for Ontario Housing managing seniors’ housing properties in Kent County. Finlay was predeceased by his wife, Jean (Bradshaw) whom he met at the Stratford teachers’ college. He was also predeceased by parents, Dan and Barbara MacDonald of Lochalsh and siblings Cliff, Sally, Louise, Isabelle, Elizabeth and Donald. Finlay was beloved by son Rod (Wendy), Guelph, Liz (Ed) Dries, Chatham and Jim (Joanne), Guelph. His much loved grandchildren include Rory (Cara), of Halifax, Jesse of Vancouver, Stephanie of Toronto, Adam (Sara) of Vancouver, Kerri of New York City and Geoff of Hamilton. Finlay supported the value of education early and promoted it actively and successfully with all his offspring. The Family would like to thank all those that helped him at the Chatham Retirement Resort and the 4th floor nurses on the Medical Ward in Chatham and the Continuing Care staff with the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance in Wallaceburg. Please join the family as they receive friends on Friday, March 19 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. & 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Funeral Home, 459 St. Clair St., Chatham. Funeral Service to follow on Saturday, March 20, at 1:30 from the funeral home. Interment at Maple Leaf Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church in Chatham where Finlay was a 65 year member and one-time elder, CNIB or the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Online condolences may be left at www.mckinlayfuneralhome.com McKinlay Funeral Home 459 St. Clair Street Chatham, Ontario 519-351-2040