Century-old veteran dies

Tributes are pouring in for the late Allister “Mac” MacDonald of Stayner, who died recently at the age of 101.

MacAllister served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during WWII and then worked for more than 30 years in the base construction engineering section at CFB Borden. He served two terms as mayor of Stayner and was a proud member of Stayner Legion Branch 457.

Clearview Mayor Doug Measures opened this week’s council meeting by expressing his admiration for MacDonald, reminiscing about the huge turnout for his 100th birthday celebration. “He was a true gentleman and he will be missed.”

Jamie Brown describes himself as a fourth generation Stayner boy and says MacDonald used to shop at his family’s butcher shop.

“He was an institution. Everyone knew Mac, but he was the most unassuming man. He lived just down the street, and as he got older a few of us would drop in on him on Remembrance Day to talk about his memories of serving in the RCAF. He became theunofficial patron saint of the Stayner Legion. There are not many WWII vets left and for him to have his wits about him and live independently until very near the end was remarkable.”

MacDonald is survived by four children and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Plans are in the works for a memorial service at some time in the future.