Marjorie Eileen (Manning) Fountain

We are saddened to announce the death of Marjorie Eileen (Manning) Fountain, 95, at Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Saturday, July 9, 2016. She was born on March 2, 1921 in Windsor, NS, the daughter of the late Fred C. Manning and Gladys M. (Tingley) Manning. She was educated at LeMarchant School, Halifax, Edgehill School for Girls, Windsor (now King’s-Edgehill), Dalhousie University, Halifax, and the Shaw Business School, Toronto. During WWII she was secretary to the District Army Examiner, Halifax, and drove an ambulance for the Red Cross. She served on the Senate of Acadia University, Edgehill School Board of Governors, the Board of Eastern King’s Memorial Hospital and the Provincial Council of Girl Guides.

She attended First Baptist Church, Halifax, and was a member of the Women’s Inter-Church Council, APSEA School Auxiliary, Local Council of Women, Halifax Ladies’ Music Club, Christian Women’s Club and the St. Margaret Sailing Club. She was a life member of Alpha Gamma Delta International, N.S. Heritage Trust, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Joshua Slocum Society, Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust, and the Provincial and Dominion United Baptist Women’s Missionary Union.

Together with her mother she established the Manning Memorial Chapel at Acadia University in memory of her father Fred C. Manning. She and her husband Sheldon established the Gladys M. Manning Memorial Home in Windsor in memory of her mother. She established the Sheldon L. Fountain Learning Commons at Acadia in memory of her husband Sheldon L. Fountain.

She was a leading supporter of the IWK Hospital, the QEII Hospital, Acadia and Dalhousie Universities, King’s-Edgehill School and Dublin School in New Hampshire. She also made major contributions to the Canadian Red Cross, Pier 21, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Neptune Theatre and Symphony Nova Scotia. Along with her husband Sheldon, she received Honourary Degrees from Acadia (1999) and Dalhousie (2005) Universities.

She was predeceased by her parents, her loving husband of 63 years Sheldon Fountain, her sister Ruth in infancy, and her grandson Alex Fountain. She is survived by her children Fred Fountain (Elizabeth), Eileen Richardson, David Fountain (Margaret), grandchildren Katharine Fountain, Olivia (Richardson) Rathbun, Jonathan Richardson, Gwyneth Fountain, great-grandchildren Canaan, Chaya and Silas Rathbun.

Funeral service will be held at First Baptist Church, Halifax, on Tuesday, August 2, at 11:00 a.m., Rev. Lynn Uzans presiding. A reception will be held at the church following the service. Interment will be at the Centre Falmouth Cemetery, Falmouth, Nova Scotia. Should you wish to make a donation in Marjorie’s memory, please consider the IWK Foundation or the QEII Health Sciences Centre Foundation or the charity of your choice.

Special thanks to all the nurses and staff at Cameron and Drummond Halls at Parkland Clayton Park through the years. Our mother was a dynamic woman, quick-witted and high-spirited, forthright and decisive and open to experience. She loved her family and her many friends and always had a ready smile. She enjoyed driving and her many travels with Sheldon. She adored her many pets especially Krista the cat. She loved gardening, swimming, boating and entertaining at her summer home Pinehaven in St. Margarets Bay. She enjoyed life and lived it to its fullest and we will miss her.