Neil and his brother Jim, enrolled in the Navy in 1944, and Neil was assigned to the HCMS Huntsville, a Castle Class Corvette which was part of the convoy patrols in the North Atlantic. His triangular patrol route was from NFLD to Ireland to Ne

w York. After his discharge from the Forces, Neil began working for his father James as a labourer in the bridge department with the government. Over a period of sixteen years, he worked his way up to Bridge Superintendent and continued to exce

l in this position for the last twenty-six years of his career.

Neil was very active in community service as a member of the Knights of Columbus in Rexton, the Club d'age d'ore in Richibucto, The Rexton Lions Club, The Richibucto Legion, The Rexton Recreation Council, and regularly attended the Immaculate Conc

eption Church in Rexton where he had sat on council for several years.

Neil had a deep love of sports but his passion was hockey as he coached many teams over the years. He drove the neighbourhood boys to and from games and practices on a regular bases, and often invited whole teams into his home to feast on his belo

ved's home made fries. He coached the Female Flyers for several years, which was the first all female team in the Kent Region. He was respected by many and was loved for his keen sense of fair play and integrity. Neil was a member of the first old

-timers hockey team in Richibucto and worked closely with Wabbo to get the first Jr. B Team established in the area. Although he was an avid fan of the Habs, he would never admit it openly to us until recently, for fear of reprisal from the eve

n greater fan of the Maple Leafs, his wife.

Neil was employed by the Department of Transportation for 46 years, thirty as a Bridge Superintendent, constructing and replacing bridges throughout New Brunswick. After his retirement, he worked as a consultant for several companies, troubleshoot

ing major problems with bridge construction and bridge replacement. His knowledge and work ethic gained him wonderful notoriety within the engineering community of the province.

Neil had a strong sense of community service and of the family dynamic. He was our stone of granite that could most always solve any problem at hand. His home was a drop in for community children and he and his wife would often wake up in the morn

ings to discover several sleeping bodies in various parts of their small house. Everyone was fed and made to feel welcome in his home. He was a kind man who had a softness for lost souls, and took several local boys under his wing. He was a fathe

r figure and a firm guide to these boys, and helped greatly in their career choices. He always felt that with a bit of compassion and love, any person would have hope for a good future. He certainly proved his theory on many occasions.

As with all things in life, time steals away those precious moments, and those whom we cherish most within our hearts. Children grow and move on, the rock begins to wither and ware to the challenges of life. Surrounded by his boys, he peacefull

y passed away.

It was his job to build bridges, but his destiny to work with his father James, building the Rexton Bridge. For destiny brought him to his one true love, who he met at the local boarding house in Rexton, Clarinda Scully (Babin). He lost her sudde

nly twelve years ago, and was a lonely soul for all these years. He learned to wash his clothes, do the dishes, clean the floors and even to cook the odd thing; yet, at family meals the conversation always gravitated back to her, and how muc

h he missed her.