Obituary of Lyall Russell MacGregor

Lyall Russell MacGregor of Halifax, Nova Scotia
1950-2024

Please join us in celebrating the life of our beloved husband, father, brother, granddad, uncle, cousin, coworker, friend, and neighbor, Lyall MacGregor.  Lyall was born on March 2, 1950, to the late Alexander (Alec) and Helen (Dewar) MacGregor.  He passed away peacefully at the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital in Halifax on July 24, 2024, surrounded by loved ones.  Lyall was a force of nature and a friend, confidant, and mentor to many. He leaves behind a treasure trove of memories, wisdom, insights, warmth, and love. His authentic and no-nonsense approach to life was a true gift.  Lyall and Sharon were married for 52 years and built a beautiful and full life together with their two daughters, Paula and Michelle. When it was time for his daughters to create their own families, he welcomed Trevor, Aubrey, and his four grandchildren—Hannah, Zachary, Ethan, and Helen—with loving and open arms. He was the best husband, father, father-in-law, and grandad you could imagine. He was also loved and cherished by his brothers and sisters, through birth and through marriage, his many nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, and cousins. He left a lasting impact on his family.  Lyall was a proud plumber and pipefitter and an active member of the United Association Local 56 union. He loved his work and the people he worked with over the years in the Maritimes and out west. He was dedicated to building strong teams and quality work and was a mentor to many. He was committed to learning and spent many hours upgrading his skills and encouraging others to do the same.  Lyall was a community builder. He grew up on Big Island in Merigomish and was a country boy at heart. He moved to the city when he was a teenager to go to school and spent most of his life in a home he built in sunny Hammonds Plains. Over the years, he was also at home at the shore in Pugwash, on Big Island, and in the Yukon. He created an extensive network of loved ones. Lyall was able to make any gathering special, usually with baked goods in tow. He was always one to pick up the phone and, in later years, his quick wit and the simple joys of life were often shared by text.  His dedication to excellence also showed through his involvement in his family, the shore community, the union, and square dancing. It was impossible to keep up with Lyall, and we all wondered how he did so much. He put many kilometers on a full fleet of vehicles over the years.  He loved to travel, go to the beach, host a campfire, work on a project, mow the grass, go to a dance, go for a stroll, coordinate union events, participate in union meetings, take in a kids hockey or soccer game, go to a show, play a game of golf, visit someone in need, or talk about nothing over a glass of rum or a cup of coffee. He was active right up until his last days, which is a comfort to us all.  

We are forever grateful to all the doctors, nurses, and health professionals that took good care of Lyall over the years. We are especially grateful for the doctors and nurses at the Queen Elizabeth II – Dr. Mark Bartolacci, Dr. Nix, Dr. Raiche-Marsden, Alan Wong and Emma Haines – who took care of Lyall, and our family, in his last days.

We are hosting a casual, joyous, no-nonsense celebration of life on August 1, 2024, from 3 pm to 6 pm at the Local 56 union hall at 31 Ragus Road in Dartmouth. There will also be a gathering for family and friends in Whitehorse later this summer.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Crohn’s and Colitis Canada or the Local 56 Scholarship.