Obituary of Manford Melvin Thompson

Manford Thompson, 85, of Saint John - beloved husband, father, grand-father, life-partner, and friend - passed away peacefully on August 6, 2016 at St. Joseph’s Hospital with his family by his side, after an extended illness. Born in Saint John on October 1, 1930, Manford grew up in Round Meadows of Chance Harbour and afterwards Lorneville. As a child, he worked with his father fishing salmon commercially in the Bay of Fundy. As young man, he worked in the Saint John winter port and as a mechanic at the Golden Ball garage. He then started working as a carpenter, later founding a business building houses in Saint John and its environs, for which he became widely known and respected. Though he only had an eighth grade education, he was a voracious life-long reader, priding himself on being a freethinker. He travelled widely, particularly in Canada and the USA, having twice made cross-Canada car trips. When he was younger he was an avid fisherman, though his interest in later life ran more to cooking, and was known for making an awesome fish chowder. In his late-30s, he had a lung removed due to cancer. Despite his lowered stamina, he continued to live life to the fullest, enjoying his daily walks up until well past his 85th birthday. Manford is survived by his mutually-devoted partner of 10 years, Shirley Bourgeois; his daughter Jill (Allen) Pinkerton and their children Jordan and Megan of Whitby Ontario; his son David of Saint John and his children Lauren (Michael) Fishbuch and Colin Thompson of Calgary AB; his son Gary (Kristin) and their children James and Peter of Ithaca NY; his brothers Calvin (Joyce) of Fredericton and Robert (Marguerite) of Musquash; his aunt Beryl Rutherford (Toner) of Saint John; and numerous cherished nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family members. He was predeceased by: his wife of 47 years, Elizabeth (Betty) Thompson (Oliver) in 2004, to whom he was a loving and caring husband; his parents, Robert and Alice (Toner); his sister Jacqueline and his brothers Norman and William. Arrangements are under the care of Brenan’s Bay View Funeral Home, 1461 Manawagonish Road, Saint John, NB (634-7425). Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of Manford’s life, which will be held on Wednesday, August 10, 2016 at 2:00 pm in Brenan’s Bay View Reception Centre. A private interment will take place at a later date. For those who wish, remembrances made to any charity of the donor’s choice would be appreciated by the family.