Bernard, Keith "Clayton", Age 65, Paqtnkek First Nation, passed away peacefully at home on May 30, 2023, he was the son of the late Eunice Marie Bernard and George Marshall.
Clayton spent the first part of his childhood in Pictou Landing with the family of the late Greg and Anne Denny. When he was still young Clayton was taken to Boston by his grandmother. When he was five, he was put on a plane by himself where he was met at the airport by Brother Sampson and a nun from the Shubenacadie Residential School. He stayed there until the school closed in 1967 a total of four years. He then returned to Afton to live with his grandmother, Mali’j Joe who taught him a strong work ethic and he continued his education in Monastery and Mabou.
In his early years he had the travel bug, moving from place to place but later settled in We’koqmaq and cherished the thirty years he spent there remembering fondly happy times with his late sons. In We’koqmaq, he worked as a furnace repair man, a plumber and a backyard mechanic. He also took gyp-rocking and drywall contracts. Clayton and his good friend, Chuckie, started their own wood business, selling pulpwood to the mill in Port Hawkesbury. His grandmother’s teaching stayed with him all his life as every job Clayton took on was a job well done.
He is survived by sisters: Ida Marshall (Rod), We’koqmaq; Gloria Marshall, Paqtnkek; Danny Marshall, Potlotek; George Marshall, Potlotek; Robert "Rocket" Marshall, Gail Marshall, Krista Thompson, and Kim Peters (Bobby) all of Paqtnkek; special sister, Sandra Merritt and mother of his children, Clara Phillips; grandchildren, Sean, Jayden, Riel, and Kenneth; aunt, Judy Julien; godchildren: Diana Marshall, Juliana Julian and Mercadies Marshall.
He was predeceased by his children: Cimon "C.J.", Clint and Colt; two children in infancy; sister, Mary and brother, Colin.
Visitation will be in his residence at 37 Saqamaw Road, Paqtnkek after 5:00 pm on Saturday. Funeral Mass will be held in Immaculate Conception Church Heatherton on Monday at 11:00 am with Reverend Dennis Lamey presiding. Burial at a later date.
Funeral arrangements are under the arrangements are under the direction of C.L. Curry Funeral Home, Antigonish. Online condolences: www.clcurry.com.