STEWART, Phyllis B.

The family of Phyllis Beatrice Stewart, nearly lifelong resident of New Tusket, Digby Co., wishes to announce her death, which took place at Tideview Terrace, Digby, on December 4, 2020, having been a resident of Tideview since April of 2019. She was born January 2, 1932, a daughter of Sebry and Alicia (Mullen) Mccullough. She was born in New Tusket, raised in Riverdale and lived all her married life in New Tusket. She survived two husbands, Walton Mullen and Donald Stewart. She is survived by sisters, Lennie Marshall, South Range; Wynona Naugler, Ontario; Freta Trimper, Lawrencetown; and brother, Vernon, Grafton; as well as nieces and nephews in all three families too numerous to mention; also sisters-in-law in the Mccullough family, Lennie Weaver, Clara Sabean. She is also survived by sister-in-law in the Mullen family, Stella of Easton; and in the Stewart family, Elizabeth of Oxford. Phyllis was predeceased by her husbands; parents; three siblings at birth; stepmother, Edith (Cosman); brothers and spouses, Herbert (Helen), Ralph (Florence), Freeman in Italy, in the Second World War; Willis, Elton, Keith (Gloria), Gordon ( Jocelyn), Basil; sisters and spouses, Mildred (Walter) Rice, Armina (Gilbert) Ingersoll, Ruby (Fred) Naugler, as well as brothers-in-law, Earle Marshall, Raymond Rice, Donald Trimper, Archie Naugler, Donald (Ruby) Mullen, Earl Mullen, Austin (Jean) Mullen, Douglas (Leone) Stewart, Hedley Stewart, Alton Stewart and sisters-in-law Annie Gordon, Elsie Baird, Grace Black. Phyllis began teaching as a young woman as a "permissive teacher." As a married woman, with the blessing of her husband, she went to "Normal" in 1960, and over the years took summer schools and blocks and improved her credentials and was thought of by her students as a strict and good teacher. She was always a traveller. She and Walton took many meaningful road trips, she travelled with siblings and nieces and nephews, and after widowed the first time, became a world traveller to places like Australia, the United Kingdom, took several trips to Europe and a trip to Iceland, many of those trips with a wonderful friend met late in life, Gail Fudge, who has been a loyal and concerned friend. A lifelong desire was realized in 2006, when she was able to visit the grave of her brother, Freeman, in Argenta, Italy. Family and community were important to her. She began her church-life in Southville Church of Christ, and later became a member of New Tusket Baptist Church and was a supporter of both churches over the years, being very interested in the building of the new fellowship hall at New Tusket Church. She was part of groups for women in both churches, a member of the Women’s Institute, supported the fire halls, Meeting House Society and supported the community benefits as well as being an accomplished quilter, and an honest self-evaluator. She said of herself, "The only time I take my foot out of my mouth is to change feet." The family has joked much about her being one of those outspoken Mcculloughs. Although Phyllis had no children of her own, she was a cherished aunt down several generations, and loved having family use her "camp" in Riverdale, on a piece of long-held family land. Neither of her husbands were keen on going there to stay, but they together hosted many wonderful family dinners, social gatherings, rehearsal parties, even honeymoons, as well as simple gab- sessions, lake-viewing chats on the verandah looking out over "our lake." There will be visitation in Jaynes Funeral Home, Weymouth North followed by burial in Lakeside Cemetery, Havelock. Rather than flowers, donations would be appreciated in Phyllis’ memory. Please donate if you wish to New Tusket Baptist Church, Lakeside Cemetery, Southville Church of Christ Cemetery, or Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia. Family visitation only will be Wednesday, December 9th from Jayne’s Funeral Home, Weymouth North followed by burial in Lakeside Cemetery, Havelock. A Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date in New Tusket United Baptist Church. Share a memory or leave an online condolence at: www.jaynesweymouth.com