March 13, 1941 - January 31, 2022
Son of the late George and Minnie (nee Morris) Macumber and born in Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia. Loving husband and survived by his wife Annette Macumber (nee McGregor) of Serpent River First Nation with whom he celebrated 50 years of marriage in 2021.
Loving father of Leila Macumber and Vernon Macumber. Proud and loving Papa to 4 grandchildren which he loved and adored, Sophie Nebenionquit, Landon Macumber, Avah Macumber and Mavis Macumber.
Predeceased by his siblings Cecil Macumber, Paddy Macumber, Ernest Macumber, Margaret McLellan and Robert Macumber, all of Nova Scotia.
Survived by his siblings Roland Macumber, Stevie Macumber and Edith Macumber, all of Nova Scotia.
Basil was born into a life of very hard work and from a very young age he was taught that anything less than 100% effort everyday was not acceptable. He definitely passed this onto his children. He never achieved much of a school education but he didn’t let that stop him from being successful. There is a catalogue of places he has worked and job titles that he has held from Nova Scotia all the way to Ontario. It was in Ontario where he met the love of his life and married her on April 3, 1971.
From here Basil began a 22-year career with the City of Sault Ste. Marie in the Public Works Department as a heavy equipment operator. At the time of his retirement, he was an excavator operator and very proud of that accomplishment. There isn’t a street in Sault Ste. Marie that he can’t name or tell you its location right down to where gas lines, sewer lines, catch basins and manholes are located. He never stopped working, even when the city was on strike, he found self employment as a roofer by simply driving around looking at roofs he thought would need repair. He would ask home owners if they would like their roof fixed.
He never missed the chance to drive to Windsor, Ontario, often in the middle of the night, to pick up his daughter Leila from university. This became a very special bonding time for both of them.
Basil was the definition of a hockey dad, blizzard or shine he was always there and was respected by many in the hockey community.
Basil absolutely loved and cherished being outdoors. From camping to fishing to hunting the Mississauga Islands to his maple syrup making and his passion, wood cutting.
He loved the annual Chiblow Lake family gathering where he got to visit with many family and friends including his girls from Orillia. He loved and cherished his trips back home to Nova Scotia where he was able to visit his siblings, family and to simply be on the beach.
Basil and Annette spent the last 50 years of their lives devoted to each other, through the ups and downs. He was very grateful for everything they shared together, especially the care he received from his wife the last few months when his mobility had declined.
Basil is reunited with his 3 close friends, Reginald McKinnon Sr., Spud Burke and Clifford McKay with whom their passing in recent years was hard on him. He is definitely sharing “a good drink of whiskey” with them.
Basil was a champion scone maker with whom very few could match and his scone will be greatly missed.
He is reunited with his girl and canine companion Muffy.
Basil is leaving a legacy where family and time spent together comes before anything else.
Family and friends are invited to visit at Serpent River First Nation Lifestyle Centre, 36 Ballpark Road, SRFN on Wednesday, February 2, 2022 beginning at 1pm until 3pm on Thursday, February 3.