Gavin, Joseph Charles, 80, of Upper Springfield, Antigonish Co., passed away on January 8, 2012 peacefully at home with his loving family at his side, following a two year battle with cancer.
He was born on April 6, 1931 in South Merland , Guysborough Co. to the late James and Sarah (Bowman) Gavin.
Joe worked as a labourer in the construction industry for many years and worked on the farm, as well, where he enjoyed his beloved farm animals, his vegetable gardens and especially his potato patch. He was a Christmas tree grower and took great pride in producing the "perfect" tree, especially for family and friends. He was an avid and qualified woodsman, hunter, trapper and fisherman and was happiest in the great outdoors for which he had a great appreciation. He enjoyed camping, curling, snowmobiling, four-wheeling, card playing and hockey, especially his grand children's hockey games. He had a lifetime love of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ford trucks. Joe was a member of the Laborers Union Local 615, the Northeastern Christmas Tree Association and St. Andrew's Oak and Owl Club. He had a deep Catholic faith and was a faithful member of St. Andrew's Parish. Joe derived great pleasure from time spent with his large family and many friends.
Joe is survived by his loving wife of fifty-five years, Kathleen (MacGillivray); children: Gail (Donald), Tate, Heatherton, and their children: Krista ( Jarrett) Landry, Kyle (Amanda), Katelyn, Kory; Paul (Cathy), Dunmore, and their children: Tyler, Catie, Hayley; James (Barbara), Dartmouth, and their children: Andrew, Brittney; Barbara (Frank) Carroll, Bible Hill, and their children: Pat, Nick, Kathleen, Bret; Janice (Paul) Power, Bedford, and their children: Nicole, Mark, Andrea; Joann (Eric) Brown, Lower Sackville, and their children: Kristen, Aaron, Adam; Mark (Cabrini), Dunmore; Lorraine (Tim) MacDonald, Hammonds Plaines, their children: Ellen, Abby, Kysac; Brenda (Arpad) Nagy, Okotoks, AB their child, Lainie; six great grandchildren: Madison, Ainsley, Austin, Natalie, Dawson, Nathan; sisters: Anne Betts, Gibbons, Alta.; Margaret Weaver, Georgetown, Mass.; Dolly Pellerine and Isabel (Ray) Cummings, Halifax, and Kaye Schuetz, Germany.
He was predeceased by daughter, Jolene; brothers Bill and Johnnie; sisters, Florence Murphy and Mary Bond; brothers in law: Walter Murphy, Austin Bond, Edgar Betts, Russell Weaver and Dennis Pellerine.
Visitation will be in C.L. Curry Funeral Home, 135 College Street, Antigonish on Wednesday from 7 to 9 pm and Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm. Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, January 13, 2012 at 11:00 am in St. Andrew's Church, St. Andrews with Reverend Charles Cameron presiding. Burial in South River Cemetery.
Family flowers only please. Donations in memory may be made to the South River Cemetery, Cathy's Place Cancer Resource Room, or the charity of choice. Online condolences: www.clcurry.com