Burton Eldridge Greene

Burton Eldridge Greene "Bertie" - Bear River - passed away peacefully in Digby General Hospital Monday, August 3, 2015.Born on February 1, 1937, in Port Lorne, Annapolis Co., NS. He was the son of the late Hartley and Edith (Parker) Greene. Burton was a man of many talents, he served as a medic in the army for 3 years before graduating from Ranger School in 1960; he worked for the surveys and mapping division for 2 years before being assigned to Digby County, becoming Donald Brown's assistant at Western Nova Scotia's newest Lands and Forests Depot "Hillgrove" located on the shore of Haines Lake. Burton loved the outdoors, hunting and fishing, and especially his job at Hillgrove. The camp at White Sand Lake was a special place which he made sure his family experienced; the canoe trips to and from were magical. He had a variety of artistic abilities; drawing and sketching, tanning hides, making knives, packbaskets, tools, working with leather, tying flies, and once made a fiberglass canoe. He loved working with wood and in his shop he made 13 beautiful fiddles from scratch. He taught himself to play the fiddle and enjoyed music nights in his home with his wife, Marie, accompanying on piano. Ed Peck and Dave Dugas were two of the most enthusiastic and seldom missed an evening; he so enjoyed their company, especially these last few years. Burton and Marie were baptized together in their first year of marriage in the Bear River Pond at the Head of the Tide. Bear River Advent Christian Church meant a lot to him over the years. He told the story of how Dave Parker bugged him constantly to go to Sunday school and church in their youth; he went forward at church and gave himself to the Lord and always said this was the start of his Christian walk. He is survived by his wife Marie (Riggs), step-daughter Andrea Edmonds and son Philip Greene; grandchildren Darcy, Jordan and Dakota Greene of Richmond BC, and sister-in-law Alice Greene. He was predeceased by brothers, Richard and Wallace "Wally" Greene, sister Buelah (6 months) and step-son Stephen Edmonds. Cremation has taken place under the care and direction of Jaynes Funeral Home, 7 Birch St. Digby.(902) – 245-2525. There will be no funeral service at Burt's request - his words, "No fuss". Burton was very gentle, loving, kind and humble and will be missed by all who knew him. Thank you to Dr. McCormick, Dr. Weir and the many nurses for making sure Burt was admitted quickly and making him as comfortable as possible. Thanks also to Melanie at Digby Palliative Care and all the VONs and homecare workers who helped care for Burt before he was admitted to hospital; we cannot say enough good things about all of you. Interment will take place at Mount Hope Cemetery in Bear River at 2 pm on Saturday, August 15th. Rev. Earl Waterman officiating. There will be an open house beginning at 3:30 pm at the family home for anyone who wishes to drop by and celebrate Burt's life. Donations may be made to the Nova Scotia Lung Association.