Obituary of Marjorie Stewart Smith

It is with immense sadness and broken hearts that we announce the sudden passing of Marjorie Stewart Smith on March 3, 2019, with family by her side at her home in Coxheath. Born in the spring of 1932, in Sydney, Marjorie was the only child of the late Chauncey Murdoch and Ethel May (Stewart) Smith. Marjorie was very well known throughout her lifelong community of Coxheath. She grew up on the family property, graduated from Sydney Academy, and went on to Mount Allison to take secretarial training to then return back to Cape Breton to live and remain in the place she loved. Marjorie’s love for animals, especially horses, extended well beyond her own self hobby. Her passionate flare for riding and teaching others to love the horse and its sport, without a doubt, began very early in her youth and had never ceased. So genuinely rooted to horses, she influenced so many lives through her unmeasurable kindness and devoted way – resonating true to her daughter, Kim, carrying on in her footsteps to love, care, and compete with their horses – something that Marjorie sincerely treasured. Involvement with the local horse clubs, Cape Breton Exhibition, harness races, NS Morgan Horse Club, NS Equestrian Federation, 4-H Clubs, and horse show stewarding granted her great pleasure and satisfaction. Marjorie was undefinably an inspiration to all, those past and present, that had and continue to have any association within the horse communities. Marjorie was active throughout her lifetime. She enjoyed water skiing, snowmobiling, boating, camping, and trail riding in younger years and had an eager love to sew, garden, bake, and nanny in later life. She was an avid traveller of the Maritimes – she couldn’t wait to take on any road trip that was had, whether near or far, and annually loved to visit her cousin on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. Marjorie’s life career was with the Department of Education until her retirement in 1991 when her grandson, Johnathan, was born. She would then spend the next 27 years hurtling, educating, mentoring, and assisting him throughout every aspect of his life. Marjorie was predeceased by her long-time partner, George Winford Garland; survived by her daughter, Kim (John William) Beaton; grandson, Johnathan (Colleen) Beaton, and her cat companion, Joe. Marjorie will be greatly missed by all of her family and vast circle of friends. Visitation will be held Friday, March 8th, from 2 – 4 p.m. and 6 – 8 p.m., with funeral service to be held on Saturday March 9th at 2 p.m., all at the Sydney River United Protestant Church, 1524 Kings Road, Sydney. Interment at a later date in Hardwood Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Marjorie may be made to the Canadian Wildlife Federation. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to T.J. Tracey Cremation and Burial Specialists, Glace Bay (902) 849-4199. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.tjtracey.com.