J. M. Sproule
1905 - 2000
Sproule, Rev. J. Marshall - 95, of Advocate Harbour, Cumberland County, died Sunday, August 6, 2000 in Highland View Regional Hospital, Amherst. Born May 11, 1905 in Advocate Harbour, he was the son of the late John and Henrietta M. (Marshall) Sproule. Marshall began his career as a teacher in West Brook in 1922. He was principal of Fox River in 1923. He completed grade XII at Amherst Academy in 1924 and was principal in Advocate Harbour from 1925-26. He substituted at Joggins, Apple River & Conns Mills in 1927 and served as Assistant Headmaster at the Presberterian Boys collegiate School in Pictou from 1928-29. He was a student minister in Onslow - Belmont in 1930. Divinity from 1933-35. He was a student minister at Glen Margaret from 1931-33 and at Sambro from 1933-35. He was a minister in Bermuda from 1935-38 and in NorthEast Harbour-Ingomar from 1938-40, Upper Stewiacke from 1940-43, Bridgewater from 1943-47, Upper Musquodoboit from 1947-48, Pugwash from 1948-52, York, PEI from 1952-57 and from Alberton, PEI from 1957-58. He returned to teaching at Lake Charlotte in 1958, Jeddore-Oyster Pond from 1960-61, Robert Jamieson High from 1961-63 and Pugwash High School from 1963-69 when he retired. Since his retirement, he was supply minister at Worthing, Barbados and Advocate Harbour United Church. He has recently assisted in the opening of the Cape Chignecto Provincial Park & the Mariners Memorial Park at Advocate. He has written the "Diary" article for the Citizen since it started in 1974 and more recently for the Springhill-Parrsboro Record. He was an avid gardener and loved reading. He will be sadly missed by his family, friends and the many readers of his diary. He is survived by his second wife, the former Sadie Merriam; sons; Bernard, and his wife, Isabel, Ottawa, Ont; George, and his wife, Arlene, Edmonton, Alberta; Robert, and his wife Rose, Vancouver, BC; Paul, Nanaimo, BC; Eric, and his wife Beatrice, Pugwash; Hubert, Dartmouth; Donald, and his wife, Sandy, Arnprior, Ontario; step-daughter, Sally Ann Merriam, Kingston, NS; niece, Carole (McLean) Campanaro, Charlottetown, PEI; nephews, John McLean, Dartmouth and Bruce McLean, Surrey, BC; 15 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife, the former Erica Cook; a sister Marjorie Gwendolyn McLean. Visitation 2-4 p.m. Tuesday at Smith's Funeral Home, Parrsboro and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday at the Advocate United Church, where funeral will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, Rev. Dan Gunn and Rev. David Chisling officiating. Burial in the Advocate Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Advocate United Church or to a charity of choice.
