McClung, Robert Paul, age 79, of Lochaber, N.S. died on May 8, 2026.
Born on July 18, 1946, in Scarborough, Ontario, Paul was a son of the late Robert Gemmell and Edna Grace McClung.
Paul moved to Bedford, Nova Scotia, as a young boy, where he discovered his love of fishing and the outdoors. After graduating from Sidney Stephen High School, he attended ranger school in Newfoundland and Labrador and then obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in biology at Saint Mary’s University. Some of his most meaningful early life work was in research at the Museum of Natural History in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he became an expert in leeches.
Paul spent his career working for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, first as an officer and later as a supervisor based out of Sherbrooke. It was near his treasured St. Mary’s River where he would go during his lunch break, sandwich and rod in hand, to cast into the river to unwind.
Paul’s daughter, Melissa, was the centre of his world. As a young girl, he introduced her to his beloved river, and she sat on a point playing with her Barbies in the water. Later, he taught her how to fly fish, and they spent time at all the best pools, with Silver’s being a favourite. Every trip ended the same: stopping at the local gas station on the way home for a chocolate bar.
Paul loved to hunt and he built a deer blind behind his house in the woods. His most peaceful moments were sitting there for a few hours before supper, even if he didn’t spot one deer.
A nurturer at heart, Paul’s garden meant everything to him. Like his parents, he grew every vegetable he ate, often giving away extras and preserving his bounty in three massive deep freezes, along with deer meat and whatever was on sale at the grocery store.
He would not tolerate intruders in his garden and set up live-traps to catch them. During one re-location mission, he famously skirmished with a racoon as he released the animal far afield from his vegetable plot.
Swimming in his beloved Lochaber Lake was the bookend to his day. Every summer night, he and his neighbours, Stanley and Agnes Barter, met on the dock they built. To conserve water, Stanley and Paul would soap down in the lake, passing back and forth the same bar of soap. Then they’d have a drink. In cooler months, they took chairs to the top of Paul’s hill, overlooking the Scottish Highland-like landscape where they met for a nightly drink and chat.
Paul remained best friends with his pals from high school throughout his life, going out to lunch every few months with Bobby, JD, Fred, and Tommy. In his later years, he reconnected with his high school sweetheart, Joanne Campbell, who became his partner and best friend.
When he wasn’t outside, Paul carved and painted wooden duck decoys, which he gave away to family and friends and sold at Liscombe Lodge. He was proud that his ducks ended up all over the world.
Paul loved kids and kidding around. He was the king of Dad jokes, especially with his sister Mimi McClung, whom he claimed never laughed at his jokes more than once. But they found common ground around food, walking, and family, especially with his grand-nieces and nephews whom he cherished. He was known for humouring his granddaughter with silly practical jokes, and this was a big part of their bond.
Paul is survived by his daughter, Melissa McClung (Daniel Pierre-Antoine); granddaughter, Willow Pierre-Antoine; sister, Mimi McClung; and three nieces, Krista Field, Lindsay Jones and Tessa Jones.
Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his sister, Susan McClung; brother, John McClung; and his ex-wife, Barbara McClung.
A celebration of Paul’s life will be held on July 4th from 1:30-4pm at the Lochaber Community Centre, followed by reception.
Memorial donations can be made to the St. Mary’s River Association.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of C.L. Curry Funeral Home, Antigonish. Online condolences: www.clcurry.com