John Macdougall

Funeral Location:St James & St John United Church

Resting Location:St James & St John United Church

Wishes:Donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Society of Canada, or to St Joseph's Hospital Foundation

MACDOUGALL, John Fulton — Born in Moncton on August 24, 1935, John MacDougall filled his life with family, community, and service. That life ended on December 16, 2019.

Raised in Burnt Church and Newcastle with his brother, Paul (Edna), John studied chemical engineering at Dalhousie University, where he met June Dickson, who became June MacDougall in 1960. The couple settled in Newcastle in 1965. Working at the pulp and paper mill, John was a devoted volunteer at St. James and St. John United Church and stalwart member of the Kinsmen, K40, and the Miramichi Boating and Yacht Club. John was a member of the Miramichi Highland Society, organizing the annual highland games, and also a founding member of the Scottish Heritage Committee focused on the restoration of an 18th-century Scottish church and cemetery.

Through all the decades, family was the centre of John MacDougall’s life, starting with his four children, Heather (Randy Shaw), Cindy, Scott (Jackie MacDougall), and Sandra (Dan Gardner) and continuing with his grandchildren, Allyson and Kyle MacDougall, Winston, Victoria and MacDougall Gardner, and Rylie Shaw.

Whether hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, boating, or just swimming in the pool, John was always surrounded by children and grandchildren. With a gentle, steady hand and a smile that never faded, he was the exemplar of a father and grandfather.

In his later years, John took up genealogy with his usual focus and enthusiasm, scouring archives and cemeteries across the Maritimes. He leaves his wife, children, and grandchildren with a long record of a family made strong by mutual love and support across generations and centuries.

In 1790, Robbie Burns, the Scottish bard, wrote and epitaph for a friend. There are no words more fitting for John MacDougall.

An honest man here lies at rest,
As e’er God with his image blest,
The friend of age, and guide of youth:
Few hearts like his, with virtue warm’d,
Few heads with knowledge so informed:
If there’s another world, he lives in bliss;
If there is none, he made the best of this.

Special thanks to the St. Joseph’s Hospital staff who cared for John throughout his illness. Their support and thoughtfulness was a blessing. Family and friends may pay their respects at St James and St John United Church, Miramichi on Friday December 20 with a visitation from 12 PM-1:45 PM and funeral at 2PM.

If you wish to remember John, please consider donations to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada or the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation.

Funeral arrangements are in the care of Northumberland Funeral Home, 102 Pleasant St, telephone (506) 622-7741