It is with great sadness that the family of Louis George Talbot announce his death on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at the age of 85. Born on April 5, 1938, he was the son of the late Chester Coleman and Rhoda Blanche (Jarvis) Talbot of Canso, Nova Scotia.

After graduating high school, Louis worked briefly at Commercial Cable, a global center for trans-Atlantic communications located in Hazel Hill. During this time, he married his loving wife of 59 years, Elizabeth (Betty) Haynes.

As a newly married couple in 1962, Louis and Betty moved to Port Hawkesbury, where they raised their two sons Derrick (Annamarie) and Darren (Pam). Louis trained as a pipe fitter at the Canso Regional Vocational School and then started working at the Pulp Mill, first as a pipe fitter and eventually as head of the Drafting Department until his retirement in 1994. In his later years, Louis became the proud grandfather of Caleb (Erika) and Charity (Katelyn) and great-grandfather to Ronni Mae.

Louis was a gifted athlete who participated in numerous sports throughout his life including hockey, baseball, softball, broomball, and curling, and some unofficial sports such as jumping on ice pans in Canso Harbour when he was a boy, to catching a shark with his bare hands at the Canso Causeway. He played on the Port Hawkesbury Oldtimers hockey team for several years, and in summer months played fastball with the Port Hawkesbury Hounds at center field, often surprising baserunners with his strong, accurate arm. Over the years, his escapades on the ballfield and at the rink were the source of many great stories and the odd injury or two. If Louis wasn’t playing himself, he was taking his sons to a rink or ballfield somewhere in the province.

In addition to sports, Louis enjoyed playing cards with family, and regularly attended cribbage and forty-fives card plays into his early 80s. He loved spending time outside fishing, hunting, gardening, and picking berries. Along with Betty, he was an avid bird watcher. He had a special affinity for crows, and he would sneak them treats out the window of his room at the nursing home. In his later years, Louis enjoyed helping Betty with crafts and socializing at craft shows and the Joan Harris Cruise Pavilion in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

In addition to his children, Louis is survived by his brother, Herb (Barb); sister Phyllis (Talbot) Ehler (Arnold Hendsbee); brother-in-law, Dewey Haynes (Corbeil, Ontario); sister-in-law Joyce Williams (Havre Boucher, Nova Scotia) as well as many nieces and nephews. Louis was predeceased by his wife, Betty; brothers-in-law, James, Fred, and Thornton Haynes; sisters-in-law, Nancy Reynolds and Phyllis Hendsbee.

The family would like to thank the staff at Port Hawkesbury Nursing Home for the exceptional care they provided.

A graveside service for Louie and Betty will be held Wednesday, August 7 at 2 p.m. in Fourth Hill Cemetery, Canso with Rev. Heather Manuel officiating. Donations may be made in Louis' name to the Fourth Hill Cemetery (Canso, Nova Scotia) or Hope for Wildlife. Condolences to the family may be shared by visiting www.haverstocks.com