Obituary of Granville Duncan Miller

MILLER, Granville Duncan Pictou January 26, 1927 – February 17, 2023 Granville’s family is sad to announce that he passed away at home at the age of 96. However, they are blessed to say that his illness was brief, without pain and he retained his phenomenal memory, sense of humor and gentlemanly demeanour to the end. He was the first child of Hugh MacGregor and Mildred Tressa (Duncan) Miller of Westville. He was predeceased by his parents, his sister, Joan Marie (Miller) Ramsay and his first wife, Fern Christine (MacPherson) Miller, RN. Granville spent his entire career in sales, first as an employee of Crockett Brothers Hardware in Westville and then as a Sales Representative for Fred C. Morrison. During his career with Fred C. Morrison, Granville traveled extensively throughout Nova Scotia, with monthly visits to Cape Breton, Digby, Liverpool and the Annapolis Valley. His work meant that he had a great understanding of process operations and industrial maintenance but most of all he cherished the many friendships he made with his colleagues and customers. He retired in 1989 at the age of 62. In 1955, Granville married Fern, who was born and raised in MacLellan’s Brook. They had three children and a busy life, both working full time. In 1965, they purchased a waterfront property in Toney River and Granville built the family cottage and bunkhouse that was the heart and soul of summers for more than 20 years. When Fern was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) at the age of 50, Granville became her legs and arms and gave unstintingly of his strength and love so she could still live a full and happy life. After Granville retired, they spent the next 13 years of harsh winters in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with a congenial group of Northern Snowbirds, their friends for life. Granville was awarded a gold medal of honour by the MS Society of Canada for his untiring work in fundraising to assist with finding both causes and cures for MS. Granville was a lifelong aviation enthusiast. From his earliest days of childhood to the end of his life, he loved airplanes. He became a free flight modeller, creating scale models of actual planes with no more than balsa wood, tissue paper, glue and rubber bands. This hobby allowed him to acquire friends throughout North America and he was thrilled to visit Geneseo, NY on several occasions to participate in the Annual Fly In. He tested his skills as an airplane pilot by flying gliders in Stanley, NS for two years. Granville was gifted with a lovely voice and sang in several choirs throughout his life. He also took piano lessons as an adult and encouraged his children to have an interest in classical music. An active Free Mason for over 73 years, Granville was also a Shriner. He learned to make balloon animals and hats for children when he was dressed as “Honky the Clown” in local parades and events. After Fern passed away, Granville met and married the second love of his life, Mary, and they enjoyed almost 22 years of togetherness. With Mary, Granville indulged his thirst for travel with trips to Ireland, Italy, South America and many locations throughout North America. Pride in his Scottish heritage and a belief in lifelong learning saw Granville enrolled in Scottish Gaelic lessons at the ripe age of 91, which he continued for the next 4 years. He was a member of the St. Andrew’s Society of Pictou County; Gaelic blessings and grace became the norm at all the family dinners. Granville was very proud of his three children and extraordinarily proud of the intelligence, humanity and accomplishments of his three grandsons. He delighted in spending time with his great-grandchildren, an annual event when they visited from Ontario. He is survived by his wife, Mary and her children; his children, Hugh, Susan, Alan (Kelly); his three grandchildren, Nick (Sarah), Waterloo, ON; Alex (Sarah), Chalk River, ON; Jeffry, Wolfville, NS; and his three great-grandchildren, Norah, Iris and James Granville. Funeral arrangements are with McLaren Funeral Home, Pictou. Visitation will be held on Thursday March 2 from 2-4 PM and 7-9 PM. A celebration of Granville’s life will take place Friday March 3 at 2 PM from the Pictou United Church with Rev. Mary-Beth Moriarity officiating. A reception will follow in the church hall. ***Due to possible weather conditions, funeral will be held Friday at 2 PM***