William MacRae

Bill or Copper Billy as he was known to his family and friends, was born in Montreal, Quebec October 4, 1944 to Sanford and Frances (Fitzpatrick) MacRae of Campbellton. Unfortunately, Bill would never really get to know his parents. In 1946, shortly after his father returned home from the war in Europe, tragedy struck the MacRae family. Sanford and Frances were killed in a terrible automobile accident. Bill and his older sister Sandra, came to be raised by their maternal grandmother, Mrs. Gwendolyn Fitzpatrick. To them she became known as “Mama”. Their aunt and uncle, Evelyn and Earl Fitzpatrick, were also instrumental in their upbringing.

Bill embraced life. As a child he spent countless summers on the Restigouche River with Keith, Wayne and Fred Mundle. He loved sports especially baseball and hockey. In the 1960’s, Bill would get the opportunity to play goaltender for the Campbellton Tigers. In 1965-66, he was a member of the Cambellton Tiger team, that would win a maritime championship.

In the early 1970’s, Bill’s life was to take a dramatic change. While cooking breakfast with a copper frying pan, he got an idea and for the next 50 years, copper burning would be his passion. Copper burning is a process in which copper is burned with a torch. Different heat intensities bring out a spectrum of colors in the copper. In other words, the torch is the paintbrush, copper the canvas and the torchbearer, the artist. An art that the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC deemed Copper Billy to be the inventor. Bill’s artwork took him around the world. For the past 40 years, he was part of the Renaissance Festival family, his second family. Through his work, Bill was able to meet a tremendous amount of people. He was known as the man of 1000 friends. His friends have told me that “if you didn’t have a smile on your face when you met Bill, you definitely had a smile on your face after you did.” Bill loved people, especially his family and friends. He believed that these people made him the richest man alive.

Bill is survived by his sister, Sandra (MacRae) Soucy of Campbellton, his nephew Michael (Carole) Soucy of Campbellton, his aunt, Mrs. Marion Fitzpatrick of Saint John and great nieces and nephew Jillian, Lauren and Liam Soucy and several cousins.

The family would like to thank Bill’s health care team, Dr. R Ngoala, Dr. V Macmillian and the staff of extramural program, who were truly amazing. We would also like to thank Albert Girard, Ronnie Vye, Scott Walsh, Serge Henri, Ron Bujold, David Vick, Hollis Hoar, Floyd Swasson, Kaitlyn Draper and his many other friends in Canada , USA and Mexico for their help in navigating this process with us over the past 3 months. Their assistance helped us in a most difficult time. Due to Covid-19, we hope Bill’s friends and extended family understand and honor his memory in a way that is meaningful for them. At his request, Bill was cremated.

A graveside Service will be held at the St. Thomas Aquinas Cemetery on Thursday, Sept. 2 at 2pm.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted in the care of Maher's Funeral Home, Campbellton.

(506)789-1699 or toll free (855) 404-1699 email: [email protected]