Born in New Waterford on May 4, 1932, he was the oldest son of the late Angus and Kathleen (MacKinnon) Beaton.
Dad went to work as a coal miner when he was 18 years old. After a work accident that most people wouldn’t have survived, he left New Waterford to find work in the Boston area. Over the next 20 years he met and married Theresa (Gillis), became a father to his two daughters, K.C. and Florence, worked as a truck driver for the Port Oil Company, made good friends everywhere he went, and helped to grow The Canadian American Club in Watertown, Mass.
Dad moved his family to Mabou in 1981. He continued working as a truck driver and became active in the community. He was an active member of the Mabou & District Volunteer Fire Department for 30 years, served on several community organizations, actually… probably all of them. He was a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus and a charter member of Council 13734 in Mabou. If funds needed raising, tables or chairs needed moving, tea needed pouring, roasts needed cooking or potatoes needed mashing in Mabou, Dad was always there to help. He believed very strongly in community and worked hard to see that Mabou had everything needed to grow.
He was equally devoted to his family. Dad loved us without question, supported us without judgement and taught us all we needed to know about being good people. When his only grandchild, Siobhan arrived in 1998, he offered everything to her as he had to us… including developing math skills by way of Scat and Cribbage.
Dad was a quiet and gentle man who had a big presence in our family and in the community. He had a quick sense of humor, a love for storytelling, and a sharp memory. He had a way of connecting with people that was kind, warm, and usually funny.
Greg is survived by his daughters, K.C. and Florence (Mark Russer); his granddaughter, Siobhan; sisters Florence, Dawn, Agnes, Sandra, and Lynn; brothers, Angus and Raymond, nieces, nephews and many good friends. He’s reunited in Paradise with our Mom, Theresa, his parents, sister, Isabel, brother, Eugene, and several of his in-laws.
Dad had a special bond with and was incredibly proud of his nephew, Christopher (Brittany and Carter) and his niece, Allison (Sabrina).
We are deeply grateful to the doctors, nurses, first responders, paramedics, home care providers, friends and colleagues who offered help and support over the last year during Dad’s illness.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of Inverness Funeral Home.
We will celebrate Dad’s life with visitation on Thursday, May 16th, 2024 from 2-4 and 7-9 pm in the vestry of St. Mary’s Church, Mabou. Funeral Mass follows on Friday, May 17th at 11am in St. Mary’s Church with burial in the parish cemetery.
Memorial donations can be made to the Mabou & District Volunteer Fire Department, Mabou Food Bank, or Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital Foundation.
Online condolences may be made to: www.invernessfuneralhome.com
