Ralph EYRE

EYRE, RALPH ELLENWOOD - 90. Ralph died on 8 November at his home in Quispamsis, NB, quietly in the company of his family. He was born in Red Deer, Alta, but was raised on a farm in Yarmouth, NS. He joined the Canadian Army as a private soldier in the Royal Canadian Engineers in 1937. He retired from the army in 1964 as a captain, commanding 3 Engineer Stores Depot in Petawawa, Ont. He served in Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, and BC. The highlight of his military career was the three years he spent in the Yukon managing engineering transportation on the Alaska Highway. In 1964, with his wife, Winnie, he returned to Central Chebogue and resumed the farm life until 2002 when they moved to New Brunswick to live with his daughter, Heather (d'Entremont). On the farm there were cows, steers, sheep, pigs, hens, geese and thousands upon thousands of flowers on the driveways and around the five ponds he built over the years. He firmly re-established his rural Nova Scotian roots, at various times, serving as municipal fence viewer, municipal sheep evaluator and the sheriff of Central Chebogue. He also served on the board of t'YARC, the CNIB, and the Western NS Exhibition. He is perhaps best known for his whimsical and charming folk art - the hundreds of polished sculpted birdshapes mounted on natural driftwood bases that he and Winnie produced yearly and which he was making up to the time of his death. The "driftwood safaris" that he led into the backwoods of Nova Scotia were legendary. Dozens of neighbours and tourists had the opportunity over the years to see remote parts of Nova Scotia in the company of this kind and gentle man. Ralph was predeceased by Winnie in 2006 after 63 years of marriage. He is survived by his son, Ken (Carole Milligan) of Annapolis Royal, his daughter, Heather (Ray d'Entremont) of Quispamsis, his two grandchildren, Peter d'Entremont of Saint John, and Corinne d'Entremont of Austin, Texas, and his brother, Charlie, of Yarmouth. A memorial service will be held at Sweeny's Funeral Home in Yarmouth at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, 14 November. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the CNIB or to the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. A reception will be held immediately following the service at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in Yarmouth (341 Main Street). Those attending the reception and who have pieces of Ralph and Winnie's driftwood art, are invited to bring one as part of an informal exhibition to honour and commemorate Ralph's talent and craft. There will be a private family internment at a later date. Donations may be made to the CNIB or to the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Email condolences may be sent to sweenys@ns.aliantzinc.ca or you may sign the guestbook online at www.sweenysfuneralhome.net November 14, 2007