Funeral Service
Obituary of Ray Marshall Hubley
Ray Marshall Hubley passed away on May 6th, 2 weeks before his 90th birthday with his wife of 65 years, and family members at his side at Halifax Hospice. He was born in Bridgewater, NS on May 20, 1932. He was the last remaining member of his immediate family. He was predeceased by his parents George and Helen Hubley and his brothers Currie and Murray. Survived by wife, Louise and five children; Peter (Elizabeth) Ontario, Carol, Halifax, Lynn (Joe), Halifax, Lisa, Vancouver, and Stephen (Nika), Vancouver. He had ten grandchildren; Julia, Meghan, Liam, Kayla (Gill), Emma, Brendan, Marcus, Kate, Sequoia and Pomona. He also had two great grandchildren, Jordan and Austin.
Dad grew up in Bridgewater and graduated from Halifax County Vocational High School in Machine Shop. He served his apprenticeship at H.M.C. Dockyard working as a machinist and toolmaker. He graduated from the New Brunswick Institute of Technology with a teacher’s certificate. Later in life he obtained his Bachelor of Arts from Saint Mary’s University. He never stopped learning or wanting to know how things work.
Dad was very enthusiastic about his chosen career and spent 32 years teaching machine shop at Kingstec Community College in Kentville. While there he taught drivers education for a number of years. He was always interested in his student’s accomplishments and careers.
In past years he was very active in the community and with St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church. He served as president of the parish council, spent time as a leader with Mom at Marriage Encounter sessions and served as a eucharistic minister. He was founding president of the Horton Band Parents Association. He was a committee member of the Flower Cart Activity Center. Ray was a past president and life member of the Kinsman Club of Kentville, past president of K40 Club, former member of the Glooscap Curling Club and KenWo Golf Club. He was also a member of Clan Donald Annapolis Valley Branch.
His life- long hobby was woodworking, designing and building furniture for family. We all remember the days leading up to Christmas were all spent in the workshop building a surprise for family. Music was a lifetime passion, teaching himself to play the piano and the guitar, singing in the choir at church for a number of years, and always playing music at home. Dad enjoyed dancing, skating, golf and downhill skiing. He travelled extensively across Canada and the U.S. by trailer with the family and after retiring enjoyed winters in Florida, cruising and trips to New Zealand, Australia, Europe and many more places.
Dad was unwavering in his love and pride of his wife and his family. He was very close to Mom and they were rarely seen apart. He provided advice when we needed it and supported our decisions even when the choices, we made were not the ones he hoped for. Dad taught us about love and life and how to treat people with kindness and compassion. Everyone will remember Dad’s great sense of humor. He was an incredibly special man and will be missed by many.
Thank you to the kind, gentle, competent staff at Halifax Hospice. We could have not asked for a better place for Dad’s last few weeks of life. While there, we even managed to have family dinners with Dad, and he played the piano in the family room a number of times.
Ray has been cremated. There will be a service at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Kentville on May 12 at 11am with reception following. Donations may be made to Halifax Hospice. Donations made before May 15 will be tripled. Arrangements have been entrusted to Serenity Funeral Home, 34 Coldbrook Village Park Dr., Coldbrook, NS, B4R 1B9 (902-679-2822).
