Malachi C. Jones

Honourable Malachi C. Jones, B.A., LL.B., Q.C., 83, passed away peacefully at home on June 27, 2013. Born in Rockingham, NS on Sept. 2, 1929, just before the Great Depression, he was the son of the late Alexander W. Jones, K.C. and Lillian (Lyons). He is survived by his beloved wife of sixty-one years Anne Marie (MacDonald).

Malachi was educated in Rockingham public school and St. Patrick’s High School. He had a newspaper route at an early age, and was an Air Raid Warden in Rockingham during World War II. He graduated from Saint Mary's University and Dalhousie University Law School. He articled with the Department of Attorney General and was admitted to the NS Bar in 1952. Throughout his career in Government he acted as a Senior Solicitor, Crown Prosecutor, Legislative Counsel, Assistant Deputy Attorney General and Associate Deputy Attorney General. He was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 1967.

He was appointed to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia in 1970, and to the Court of Appeal in 1979. He retired from the bench in 1998. He lectured at St. Mary's, taught Criminal Law and Procedure at Dalhousie University for many years, and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws from St. Mary’s University in November, 2003.

Malachi served as Vice-Chairman of the Halifax Housing Authority and on the Board of the Home of the Good Shepherd in Halifax. He was a member of St. Agnes Church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish and Saint Benedict’s Parish. His powerful tenor resonated from the eaves of all three churches either as a member of choir or as a soloist for over forty years, and he was the vocalist for all of his children’s weddings. He was an avid walker, swimmer, cyclist and sailor for many years. He slowed down to enjoy his cottage at Hubbards for over 25 years, where he was known for his vegetable gardens, frequent visits to the Shatford Library and where he initiated his own versions of the polar bear dip. An avid armchair curler, he spent many nervous hours watching children and grandchildren compete. He was President of Saint Mary's Alumni Association from 1963 to 1965, served on the Board of Governors from 1966 to 1970 and was a life member and past president of the Charitable Irish Society of Halifax.

Malachi is survived by nine children: Roseanne (Gary Williams) Nelson, New Zealand; Barbara (Richard Gordon); Maureen (Tom Savoy), Toronto; Sheila (Dan Zehya) Grande Prairie, Alberta, Colleen (Scott Saunders), Monica (Brian Moriarty), Jennifer (Steve Springstead) Toronto, Stephanie (Jason Carne), Bermuda, and Stephen (Anne) Jones, Toronto. He was extremely proud of his 21 grandchildren including Guy Malachi, Maria and Paul Williams, N.Z; Sarah and Marc Gordon, Halifax; Stephen, Jeff (Liz) and Jenna Lynn (Daryl) Savoy, Toronto; Jordan, Lindsey and David Zeyha, Grande Prairie, Alberta; Zach and Luke Saunders, Halifax; Alex Moriarty, Germany, and Kathleen Moriarty, Vancouver, BC; Sean and Jake Springstead, Ont; Dylan and Tamsin Carne, Bermuda; and Aidan and Sophia Jones, Ont. He is survived by his best friend and beloved brother David (Marie) Jones, Dartmouth, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brothers Alexander and Humphrey, and his sisters Patricia, Madeline, Lillian, Rose Marie and Mary Elizabeth.

Arrangements are under the care of J. A. Snow Funeral Home 339 Lacewood Drive, Halifax. Visitation will be on Tuesday July 2, 2013, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Funeral mass will be at Saint Benedict’s Church, Wednesday, July 3, 2013,10:30am with reception to follow. Malachi vigorously battled various forms of cancer over the years, and when he felt they were adequately defeated, he drifted away peacefully of old age in the comfort of his own home surrounded by family. He received Holy Communion on the morning of his last day, and one of his last audible words was “amen”. The family would like to thank the many doctors, nurses and caregivers that supported him, including Dr. Mallory and Tina at the PATH Clinic, Dr. Judy MacNeill, Maria Ayers and Kevin McCarthy. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, Red Cross and the VON.