Balmoral "Duane" Young

Duane passed away peacefully, aged 89, at Tideview Terrace, Digby, in the early morning of December 20th, 2023. He entered this world on a Wednesday and departed it on a Wednesday. Balmoral Duane Young was born in Deep Brook on August 1st, 1934, the youngest son of the late Nina Adams Young and Aubrey VanBlarcomb Young. He received his early education at the village two-room school, Digby Elementary, and then attended Annapolis Royal Academy.

Duane is survived by three children, Glendon (Pam) of Mount Pleasant, Darlene, Smith’s Cove, and Jennifer (Marty) Gidney, Mink Cove; grandchildren, Matthew Hazelton, Yarmouth, Sarah Hazelton, Smith’s Cove, Carly Gidney, Halifax; great grandchildren, Gage and Owen Hazelton, Smith’s Cove. Also survived by sister, Valerie Young Mount, Deep Brook; nieces, Alana Baldwin, Aylmer, Ontario, Robin (Doug) Knight, Edmonton, Kathy (Carman) Anderson, Ottawa; nephews, Nick (Bernadette) Mount, Toronto, and Brandon, Deep Brook; great nieces and nephews, cousins and in-laws. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by wife, Doreen (Stoddard); brother, Neil in infancy; sister, Audrey Baldwin; brother, Dale and nephew, Quentin Mount.

Duane’s work history was varied - as a young boy he was in demand by neighbors for help with their various chores: Spurrs, Ditmars, Silvers, Frank Nichols, Myrtle Jackson, and others, earning a few coins for his labour. He packed and picked fruit at Pickett’s Orchards, and had a Halifax Herald delivery route, at 4 cents a paper, from his own home easterly up to and including H.M.C.S. Cornwallis. He also set up pins at the base Bowling Alley. In the summer of 1952 he worked at Point Edwards Naval Base in Sydney, stocking the Mess Halls and putting product in trucks. Returning to this area, he was at Pyne’s Meat Market in 1953, stocking shelves (eventual finishing salary $15. a week). For nine years he was with Digby Dairy, working in the milk room, and also for a short time on the delivery route in Doucetville, sometimes accompanied by his young son. In 1968, Duane and Doreen with the two oldest children, went to Happy Valley, Goose Bay, Labrador, where he was employed with the Canadian Military, stocking shelves in the Mess Halls, putting produce on trucks, until that base closed, then he was at Eastern Provincial Airways as a freight handler, often putting products on planes going to Vietnam. They returned home and lived in Digby for some years before moving to Smith’s Cove. He did carpentry work on his own and with various contractors, (Milner, Daley, Bondy) helping build, among many places, the condominiums at CFB Cornwallis. He also did regular maintenance work for several seniors in the Cove, at Leighton, Lawton and Kempton residences, and others. The last four years of his working life, he was employed at the Upper Clements Theme Park, in grounds maintenance, a job he thoroughly enjoyed.

Duane had many interests. In his younger days, he roamed the beaches and woods, and loved to visit neighborhood dumps, bringing home treasures other families had discarded. Along with making numerous rafts, he and his friend Vaughan Henshaw built a large treehouse in a very tall ash by the brook where we all enjoyed many fun times. Duane was a member of the Deep Brook Merrymakers, a village teen group. He had a huge stamp and postcard collection and was a member of The Cornwallis & Area Stamp Club, The Kentville Stamp Club and The Deep Brook Stamp Club. and spent much time learning the postal history of Nova Scotia. He has shared much of his village history, collections and knowledge with the Clements Historical Society of which he was a valued member for several years. Duane was also involved in the attempt to save the Bear River lighthouse. He loved watching hockey and baseball on television, doing jigsaw puzzles and the daily crossword, and walking the beaches until his health failed. Duane was fond of oldtime country music, especially "Wilf and the two Hanks". He enjoyed occasional fishing trips with brother-in-law, the late Billy Stoddard and friend Harry Sulis. He loved spending time at the town wharf in Digby watching the activity there.

In the autumn of 2018 Duane moved into St. Mary’s Street apartments, Digby, adjusting well to an easier life. In 2022 his health had deteriorated and he entered Digby General Hospital in August and then in mid-November moved to Dominion House, Tideview Terrace, where he spent quiet days, reading the Chronicle Herald from front to back, especially the obituaries, and doing the daily Crossword Puzzle. His mind remained clear and he enjoyed talking about the olden days, village history, and especially liked outings on the bus with other residents.

At Duane’s request, there will be no service. Arrangements have been entrusted to Jayne’s Funeral Home, Digby. Duane’s ashes will be buried next to his late wife in Smith-Sulis Cemetery, Smith's Cove. Donations in memory may be made to a charity of your choice.