Obituary of Donald John Beaton

Donald John Beaton

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Donald John Beaton who passed away at the age of 88 on June 25, 2025 at the Port Hawkesbury Nursing Home, Port Hawkesbury, NS.  Donald was the son of the late Isabel (Busby) and Hector Beaton and was born in New Glasgow, NS on July 23, 1936. The family moved to Cape Breton in 1938 and lived in Roseburn until 1941.  In 1941 they moved to Dunakin, Skye Mountain, and Donald's heart stayed there even though he was to later move to Little Narrows and then to Kewstoke. Donald spent his final years at the Port Hawkesbury Nursing Home.   

Donald worked hard his whole life. He started working in the woods when he was very young.  He worked at Little Narrows Gypsum, on the gypsum ships for 5 years, and then after he was married, he worked at Georgia Pacific Gypsum as a machine operator.  In the fall of 1971, he began work at Stora where he worked until he retired in 1998.  After retirement he worked for Caroline Farms.  Donald was very involved in his community. He was instrumental in creating the Little Narrows Community Development Association, he was a member of the Board of Trustees for the Nova Scotia Highland Village, he was the president for many years of the Whycocomagh Historical Society, and he was a member of the Masonic Lodge.  He was an amateur genealogist and knew everyone, where their ancestors had come from, and even what date they arrived!  He was full of stories and was so proud to be able to record many of them in writing.  He was a member of the Stewart United Church in Whycocomagh and the church was always very important in his life. He loved music and attended many square dances, concerts, and ceilidhs throughout the years. 

Donald loved travelling.  He saw a lot of the world while he worked on the gypsum boats: New York, New Orleans, Florida, Houston, Jamaica, and Cuba (during the Cuban Crisis!) He travelled to Newfoundland, Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia.  One of his favourite trips was to the Highlands of Scotland with Jessie.  No matter how many places he travelled, his favourite place in the world was Dunakin.

He was a proud brother, husband, father and grandfather.  He was predeceased by his sisters, Margaret and Jessie, and his brothers, James, Roddie and John.  He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Elizabeth Beaton; his son, John (Anne), White Rock, BC; his daughters, Roxanne (Collin Wade), White Rock, BC; and Colleen (Barry Campbell), Kewstoke.  He also leaves behind two grandchildren: Catherine and Alastair Wade, White Rock, BC.  He is also survived by his brother, Allan (Linda) and his sister, Marion (Claude), as well as sisters-in-law, Jessie MacKinnon (James), Judy MacKinnon (Roddie), Nan MacKinnon (John), brother-in-law, John MacKenzie (Jessie), and many nieces and nephews.  

Many thanks to the staff at the Port Hawkesbury Nursing Home for the care and comfort they provided to Donald in his final years. 

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 29 from 10am until 12 noon in Stewart United Church, Whycocomagh and from where funeral service will follow at 1pm, with Rev. Karen MacNeill officiating. Burial will follow the service in Stewartdale Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Stewartdale Cemetery Company and the Pioneer Memorial (Whycocomagh Historical Society).