Obituary of Neil Arnold

The passing of Neil Edison Arnold of Fernmount Road, Burpee, NB, occurred on Friday, October 11, 2013 at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital. Born May 3, 1930 in Barker’s Point, NB, he was the son of the late Evelyn Nora (Jamieson) and Lloyd Arnold. Neil loved music!!! He was once a lead singer for the well -known country band “Neil Arnold and the Country Ramblers” which had its own Fredericton radio show. A self- taught musician, he could play most instruments when given an opportunity. He was also a song writer/poet and a self-taught artist. His canvassed images came from more than his seven decades of hunting and fishing through the woods and streams of Ontario and New Brunswick. Professionally, he was a display artist for Peterborough’s first Canadian Tire Store, an automotive parts salesman in both Ontario and New Brunswick and for a time in Nova Scotia, travelling on the road usually with his beloved fishing rod in his car’s trunk. He was a car salesman while living in Peterborough, ON and before moving back to beautiful New Brunswick where he retired to his beloved woods, first in Durham, and then Burpee, NB. He was a story teller of great magnitude and we will miss his tales of not only the fish or deer that got away but his experiences while out in the woods, on the water or ice fishing. He did nothing without a flair of determination and once said that he would “rather fail, trying, than to not try at all”. Neil is survived by two children; his daughter, Dixie Lee Mitchell and husband Galen of Fredericton, NB; his son, Ed Arnold and wife Lorna of Peterborough, Ontario. He is also survived by his sister, Jean Woods of Hainesville, NB. He was fortunate to have four grandchildren, Kim Bradica (Frank), Brooklin, ON; Scott (Devon), Peterborough, ON; James vanRaalte (Natasha) Ottawa, ON; and Matt vanRaalte (Rachel), Fredericton, NB. He was also blessed with four great grandsons, Luke and Matt Bradica and Koen and Grayson vanRaalte. Koen, who spent a great deal of time with his “Papa Neil”, will especially miss him and their adventures on the Fernmount. Neil is also survived by many nieces and nephews; close friends and extended family members. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his five sisters, Madeline, Myrtle, Beulah, Ruth and baby, Phyllis; and his only brother, Fred. Visitation will take place at York Funeral Home, 302 Brookside Drive, Fredericton, NB on Tuesday, October 15, 2013 from 2 to 4 pm and 7 to 9 pm. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Wednesday, October 16, 2013 at 11:00 am from York Funeral Home’s T. Gordon MacLeod Memorial Chapel with Canon John Cathcart officiating. Pallbearers will be David Woods, Marven Anderson, Rob Nason, Ricky Woods, Doug Bird, and John Doherty Internment will take place directly following the service at Dayton Cemetery, Clements Drive, Douglas, NB. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Chalmers Hospital Foundation (Palliative Care Unit) or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Personal condolences may be offered through www.yorkfh.com