It is with deep sadness that we must announce the passing of Charles "Charlie" R. MacInnes, age 72, of Amherst.  Charlie passed away on Friday, July 18, 2014, at the VG Hospital in Halifax.  
 
Charlie-or Pappy, as his seven grandchildren called him-was born in 1941, grew up, and married all in Halifax, NS. Charlie spent many weekends and vacations with his family in Mabou, Cape Breton, where his family originated. Anyone who knew him well knew that his heart never left Mabou. They could also attest to the strength of his character: everything about his personality, from his sly jokes, wry humour, wisdom and capacity for logic and non-judgment will be sorely missed by those he leaves behind.

Charlie is survived by his wife, life partner, and faithful best friend of 54 years, Sandra MacInnes (Hudson), and their four children: Chuck MacInnes, Suzanne Ratchford (Tony), Craig MacInnes (Kim) and Heather MacInnes (Keith). His seven grandchildren and one great grandchild include Sarah Ratchford, Ryan MacInnes, Erin MacInnes, Kyle MacInnes, Colin Ratchford, Nathan MacInnes, Jordan MacInnes and Joseph MacInnes, respectively.  He also leaves behind his four remaining siblings: Dan, Anne Tarr, Leo, James, and was pre-deceased by brother John, and parents, Katherine (Rankin) & Charles.   They already miss his long, intensively detailed stories of our family's history, complete with the not-always-child-friendly Gaelic words he would sprinkle into conversation.

While he was with us, Charlie was happiest puttering around marinas. He would do this wherever he went. It was as though he would make friends with the boats as he wandered from vessel to vessel, and the whole family grew up alongside him on his boat, Forget Me Knots. If he wasn't boating or exploring the seaside, he was just as happy while tapping his toes to the sound of a fiddle, surrounded by family and friends.

Charlie was a moral compass and emotional rock to his family. But his kindness didn't end there. Charlie was an active volunteer in his community, and gave of himself endlessly. His calendar was always full of work he opted to do to help others. To name a few, he was a member of the Halifax Junior Chamber of Commerce, president of the Warren and Cumberland County Home and School Association, and Past Grand Knight with Knights of Columbus, Amherst. He sat on the Board of Directors with the Cumberland Regional Health Authority, and he was a member of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, zone 14. He was an active Christian: Charlie was a lector, Eucharistic minister, and he led the children's youth ministry at St. Charles Roman Catholic Church.   
   
Alongside his contributions to his community, Charlie also enjoyed a long and rewarding career that put his unparalleled charm to good use. He began at Nova Scotia Tractors in sales, and from there, moved to co-coordinator of Centennial Year celebrations for the City of Halifax. That experience translated to a position with Rothman's Pall Mall Canada and a move to Toronto, where he was special events coordinator for the company. From Rothman's, he went to Hesston Farm Machinery, where he was territory manager for the Atlantic Region. After that, he purchased a John Deere dealership on Prince Edward Island, and moved the family there.

Following that, Charlie transitioned to Corrections Services Canada, where he took on a succession of leadership and counseling roles at Springhill and Dorchester penitentiaries, where he worked in various addictions and behavioral programs. Upon "retiring," he worked at the Cameron St. Clinic in Moncton, NB, where he continued as a methadone councilor.    Charlie extended love and understanding to all he worked with during that time, and he was constantly saying that they were "good guys," despite others' judgment. Charlie could never bring himself to truly retire. Upon "retiring," he worked at the Cameron St. Clinic, where he continued as a methadone councilor.

Charlie's absence will be felt by family, friends, classmates from Saint Mary's University, and everyone else whose lives he touched along the way. Rest in peace, Charlie. You are loved and greatly missed already.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Furlong~Jones Funeral Home, 70 Church St., Amherst, NS (902-667-877) where visiting hours will take on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm.  The funeral service will take place on Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at 2 pm from Christ Church, Amherst, Archdeacon Glenn Eason and Father Phil Thibodeau officiating.  

Those wishing to make a donation in Charlie's memory may do so to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Heart and Stroke Foundation, or the charity of choice.