Gourley, Maxine – Age 71 of Riverside was taken from us on January 10, 2021. She was a daughter of the late George and Gertie (Custance) Gourley; the wise, responsible and treasured big sister to Phyllis (Jeffrey Miller), Toronto; and George (Annette), Riverside; the beloved aunt of William (Melinda), Fort Ellis and Jonathan (Julie), Mineville; and, the very special Great Auntie Ding Dong to Liam, Caleb and Cody.
She also leaves many cousins and dear friends, particularly Havey Whidden whose friendship and constant support were so important to her through the years and especially during her illness.
Maxie faced that illness with the same courage and resolve that she demonstrated throughout her life. As a young widow (David Whitman, 1975), she took charge and charted her own course; she built her own home into which she welcomed her parents and Uncle Ted Gourley; she capitalized on her training in animal husbandry at the NSAC to establish a beef farming operation which she maintained until the last few months. She loved her white cows, prompting a fellow farmer to remark that hers were the best kept beef cows in Nova Scotia.
Her “day job” was in banking and she was well known across the counter at a number of branches of the major banks in Truro, Stewiacke and Shubenacadie until her retirement.
Maxie was inspiration.
As if the physical demands of farming and an off-farm job were not enough, Maxie was committed to her annual kitchen garden which she planted, tended, harvested, pickled and stored, sharing with family and friends as well as with the deer that relied on her tolerance and generosity. She also chopped, stacked and stored her winter’s supply of firewood each year.
She loved nothing better than rambling the spring woods in search of violets, her favourite, and elusive Lady’s Slippers or relaxing on her deck enjoying the deer, pheasants, hummingbirds, finches and so many others who visited her feeders, but, to her regret, never a cardinal.
Maxie greatly valued her community and was a driving force in the Riverside Fort Ellis Community Club which established the Caddell Rapids Lookoff Provincial Park. She served as Secretary to both the Stewiacke and the Colchester County Federations of Agriculture for more than 25 years.
The Federation will honour her contributions with the establishment of a scholarship in her name to be awarded to a woman studying in agriculture.
Maxie’s interests extended well beyond her local community. She was an avid consumer of news and current events. She loved a good discussion about politics and the state of the world with the view to setting it all straight. No such conversation was ever brief!
Her down-to-earth, no-nonsense approach to life will be sorely missed, but never forgotten.
Unfortunately, due to pandemic restrictions, her memorial service must be delayed to a later date.
Memorial donations may be made in her name to Canadian Cancer Society or the Palliative Care Unit of the Colchester East Hants Health Centre.
Arrangements are under the direction of Arimathea Funeral Cooperative, Upper Musquodoboit.
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