Alan Roderick McDonald passed away at the Meaford Long Term Care Centre on June 13, 2023, in his 84th year.
Alan was born in St. Vincent Township on August 20, 1939 to the late Donald Smith McDonald and Marion McDonald-McNair (nee Kearns).
He will be sadly missed by his wife of over 50 years Barbara McDonald (nee MacPhee) and will be forever loved by his one and only daughter Alana McDonald. He will be fondly remembered by Mike and Andrew Laviolette.
Dear brother of Lois Cole (Larry), of Ingersoll; Bernice McNair of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Jim McNair (Brenda) of London, Ontario. Predeceased by his sister Marie Lindh (nee McDonald) and brother-in-law Thorston Lindh, of Nanaimo, BC and sister Goldwyn “Goldie” Kerr of Yellowknife, N.W.T. Loved as Uncle Alan by 24 nieces and nephews.
Alan grew up in rural Meaford and moved to Hamilton to become a pipefitter/steamfitter by trade. After marriage and the birth of Alana, he moved the family back to Meaford in the summer of 1978 to build one of the most unique homes in the area – mostly by himself. Over his career, he travelled to find work when and where he could – which took him to a variety of places in Ontario, out west to the tar sands, down to Poughkeepsie N.Y. and even Bermuda! He then retired from his trade to move back to Meaford to start his own business ‘A.R.M. Crane Service’.
Alan was a strong, quiet man with a talent for ingenuity – often found thinking alone in a chair contemplating how to make something easier. He would then be found tinkering away in his workshop or garage creating his newest invention. He once loved music (played the bagpipes), hunting, gardening and the outdoors in general.
A celebration of Alan’s life will take place the Meaford and St. Vincent Community Centre on Friday, June 30, 2023 from 1 until 4 p.m., with tributes at 2 o’clock.
As your expression of sympathy and in lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Alzheimer’s Society or the Canadian Heart & Stroke Foundation would be appreciated and may be made through the Ferguson Funeral Home, 48 Boucher St. E., Meaford, ON N4L 1B9 to whom arrangements have been entrusted. www.fergusonfuneralhomes.ca
