It is with broken hearts that we share the passing of our precious brother, Captain John Allen Baker, 69, who lost his life at sea February 7, 2025. John was born December 9, 1955, in Canso to Calvin Howard Baker and Virginia Margaret O’Hearn.
Survived by his partner, Mary Misener; siblings, Marie Parker, Martha Rhynold, Theresa Cole (Darren Albert), Margaret Parker (John), Joan Baker, Dorothy Bennett (Darren), Ginny Boudreau (Jerome), Anthony Baker (Melissa), Doug Baker (Bev) and Helen Casey (Paul).
John was pre-deceased by his parents, Calvin and Virginia (Tootsie); brothers-in-law, Terry Parker and Fred Rhynold; and nephew Paul Parker.
Having no biological children, we wish to acknowledge his commitment to his stepchildren, step-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He loved them all, would wrap them in a wonderful hug and generously shared all his resources (including free fish) with them.
John’s career and entire life was devoted to the commercial offshore fishery. John was an avid NFL and New England Patriots’ fan, a voracious reader and a master at barbecuing (mostly rare) steak.
John’s career in fishing started in his late teens on the offshore draggers out of Canso. John found his passion and fell in love with fishing. He began marine training and was the youngest to achieve a Fishing Master Class 1 in Nova Scotia. One of John’s proudest moments was when he became Captain of The Bedeque, an offshore fishing trawler. This was the first of many vessels he captained over the years. A very large part of John’s career was spent working with his life-long friend and employer, Willard Grover of Tor Bay.
John went on to fish many commercial and experimental species. He worked passionately with Department of Fisheries and Oceans staff, scientists, and oceanographers to contribute to marine science that ensured the conservation and viability of the fishing resources. John was involved in every aspect of the fishing industry and spent time working on a Canadian Coast Guard research vessel. His knowledge of the ocean, the marine environment and the species that he fished was exemplary. The ocean was his home and fishing was his love. There is so much more about John that most will never know. He shared his talents, knowledge and passion with anyone who was interested and mentored many fishermen during his life.
Visitation will be held Thursday, Feb. 13, 1-7 p.m., in Dennis Haverstocks Funeral Home, Canso. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, Feb. 14, at 1 p.m., in Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church, Canso. Memorial donations may be made to Seamen’s Memorial Fund C/O Lions Club of Canso. Flowers are welcome.
Alice Christene (Reid) Hewitt, R.N. (retired), 86, of Stillwater Lake, Halifax County, formerly of Port Hillford, Guysborough County, passed away lovingly surrounded by family in the Halifax Infirmary on February 4, 2025. She was born on August 18, 1938, in New Glasgow to the late John G. and Sarah “Sadie” (Fraser) Reid of Riverton, Pictou County. After completing Grade 12 at Stellarton High School, her huge, caring heart led to a career in nursing, graduating from the Victoria General Hospital in the Class of 1960A. There she solidified many lifelong friendships with Lorna Crouse, Joan Poole and the late Florence (Stewart) Greene, to name a few. She continued her education and subsequently graduated from Dalhousie University in 1962 with a Diploma in Public Health. Her nursing career drew her to Manitoba, Boston and Baddeck, before a young farming boy, James “Jim” Hewitt of Port Hillford, captured her heart. In Port Hillford, Jim and Alice raised a family of five, and Alice was tremendously proud of each of her children and grandchildren. Jim and Alice operated a mixed farm (sheep and beef cattle) along with the family grocery store for almost 50 years on their picturesque property on the beach. Keeping up her nursing skills, she worked nights at St. Mary’s Memorial Hospital, Sherbrooke, while having small children at home. She returned to full-time community health with the Nova Scotia Department of Health in 1979, where she thrived until her retirement in 1997. Not ready to fully retire, she continued her nursing career by regularly working shifts at High-Crest Sherbrooke Nursing Home, as well as doing Veterans’ Affairs assessments until she was ready to finally retire at age 72. Alice is survived by daughters, Cathy, Antigonish; Brenda (Peter Hammond), Prospect Village; and Mary (Doug Large), Stillwater Lake; sons, David (Sandy), Toronto, Ontario; and Donald (Amy), Morrin, Alberta; grandsons, Reid, Lucas, Connor, Nikolas, Carter; granddaughter, Eliana; sisters, Catherine MacLean, Helen Cruickshank, Mary Romsa (Gerald), Ruth Douglas; many much loved nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews and their families. Besides her parents, Alice was predeceased by her partner in life, husband, James “Jim” Hewitt; parents-in-law, Edgar Morse and Annie Hewitt; daughter-in-law, Diana Toy; sister, Isabel Archibald; brothers-in-law, Robert Archibald, David MacLean, Glenn Cruickshank, Albert Douglas, Morse “Bud” Hewitt; sisters-in-law, Helen Hewitt, Marilyn Hewitt; and nephew, Shawn Romsa. Since 2015, Alice had the great joy of living in Stillwater Lake with Mary and Doug. She loved and felt so blessed to be able to live with them and to live an independent life in Stillwater Lake. She loved her new life there with the Stitchers, her library knitting group, Prayer Shawl, Tea with Elsie and being an active participant at St. Luke’s United Church in Tantallon. Alice enjoyed all types of community activities but truly valued the time she spent in 4-H, Women’s Institute of Nova Scotia and Church Sunday School. She loved meeting new people and learning new skills. This winter, she taught herself to turn the heel of a sock through watching YouTube videos. She loved spending time with family, especially with her five sisters. Alice also enjoyed travel, particularly when going for extended periods to be with David’s family in Toronto and Donald’s family in Morrin. Visitation and funeral service was held Saturday, February 8, 2025, in Sharon St. John United Church, Stellarton, with Rev. Jun-Hyok Chon and Rev. Derek Elsworth officiating. Committal will be held at a later date in Cherry Hill Cemetery, Port Hillford. The family expresses special thanks to the doctors and nurses in the Aberdeen Hospital emergency department and the 5.2 ICU at the Halifax Infirmary, as well as the EHS Paramedics and EHS LifeFlight crew for their gentle kindness and excellent care. Throughout her life she was an active and engaged member of her community with special interest in ensuring that all were warm enough (with her quilt making and knitting) and that all had enough to eat. Alice (Momma, Gram) would be very pleased if everyone would perform an act of kindness by ensuring that your neighbours are warm and do not go hungry. Donations in Alice’s memory can be made to Mobile Outreach Street Health (MOSH), Halifax or Viola’s Place Society, New Glasgow. The family also asks that you support Canadian Blood Services with a monetary and/or blood donation. Online condolences may be made at www.gwgiffin.com.
Gladys Shirley Peebles (Grant) — Gladys passed away on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, in Milford Haven Home for Special Care, Guysborough. Born in Steep Creek, NS on July 9, 1930, she was a daughter of the late Alexander and Pearl (Peart) Grant.
Gladys was a homemaker and worked at Acadia Fisheries, Cove Motel and Shieling Motel. Gladys was an active person who enjoyed gardening, yard work, walking, knitting, country music, doing puzzles and reading. She mostly enjoyed her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. They were all her pride and joy and she looked forward to their many visits.
Surviving are her daughters, Anna Crant, Steep Creek; Elizabeth (Ira) Halfpenny, Steep Creek; Barbara England-Hadley (Bill), Guysborough; son-grandson, Jody DeCoste; grandchildren, Jody Decoste, Trudy (Berkley) Layes, Shirley (Deon) Duffney, Jason Halfpenny, Brad Halfpenny, Darren Halfpenny, Charles England, Trina England; great-grandchildren, Kristen (Jake) MacNeil, Danielle (Austin) Embree, Hailey Layes, Olivia Layes, Blake Duffney, Jessica Duffney, Shaynia (Randy) Ferrie, Mikaela O’Hearn, Noah England, Kendra (Lucas) Ryan, Kelsey McKinnon, Kailey McKinnon, Reid Halfpenny and Levi Halfpenny; great-great-grandchildren, Henry MacNeil, Charolette MacNeil, Jaxson Ryan, Skylar Ferrie and Hazen Ferrie. Besides her parents, Gladys was predeceased by her husband, Daniel Peebles; daughter, Shirley (Peebles) DeCoste; brother, John Grant; sons-in-law, Michael Crant and Charles England.
We thank the staff at High Crest Home for Special Care, Sherbrooke, and Milford Haven Home for Special Care, Guysborough, for all their care while she was there.
Burial will be held at a later date in St. Lawrence Parish Cemetery, Mulgrave. Donations may be made in memory of Gladys to Melford United Church Cemetery, Melford. Words of comfort may be forwarded to the family at: www.haverstocks.com