Hilton Andrew McCully
1923 - 2013
McCULLY, Hilton Andrew - October 29, 1923 - February 9, 2013. Passed away peacefully at age 89 after a short illness. A son of Captain Andy and Emma (Crossman) McCully, Hilton was born at the present site of the Greville Bay Shipbuilding Museum at Ward's Brook. Hilton received his education at Mount Allison and Saint Mary's Universities. The early years of his teaching career included a one-room school house in Lower Barney's River in 1941 and on an active Pictou Island in 1944. In the 1950s, he served as principal of Admiral Westphal School. Hilton retired in 1978 after teaching hundreds of students History and French at Caledonia Junior High School in Dartmouth. After retirement Hilton started his second career writing poetry, short stories and historical essays. He was a member of both the Writer's Federation of Nova Scotia and the Canadian Poetry Association. A regular contributor to the Amherst Citizen he penned over 80 poems. His love of ''The Shore" was chronicled in several books, including ''Back Then Along The Shore '', ''An Seanachaidh". One of Hilton's early books, is catalogued in the JFK Library and Museum. He was self-taught in Gaelic and signed all his poems "Filidh na Choille", (Poet of the Forest). Hilton step danced until age 85 and enjoyed a good Cape Breton fiddle tune. He was disappointed to learn of the passing of Dave Harley, "General John Cabot Trail" earlier this year. Dave was an acquaintance who Hilton admired to the point of having "CBLA" printed on all his personal cheques. Hilton was the last of his immediate family, predeceased by his brothers and their wives, Lee (Jessie), Ward's Brook; George (Myrtle), Hantsport and Andrew, Paris, Ont.; infant sister Blanche, and infant daughter, Heather. He will be mourned by his children, Peter (Barbara), Parksville, B.C.; Andrew (Doreen Allan), Vancouver, B.C.; Leeanne, Lethbridge, Alta; Jennifer McCully-Smith, Salt Spring Island, B.C.; and their mother, Lyda Smith, Sidney, B.C.; sister-in-law, Joyce (McCully) McClelland of Parrsboro; as well as nieces and nephews in Nova Scotia and Ontario. A public graveside committal service will be held at 12 p.m. on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at Riverbank Cemetery, Port Greville, Deacon Howard Goldstein officiating. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.
