Obituary of Peter Henry Atkinson

Peter Henry Atkinson, aged 82, died on Tuesday, September 26, 2017 at the Sussex Health Centre in Sussex, New Brunswick. He was born in Vancouver, British Columbia to Nelles Henry “Steve” Atkinson and Sarah Irene “Sally” (Collier) Atkinson and was the second of four children.

Peter spent his early life in mining towns in Canada and, for a couple of years, Bolivia. His siblings remember him as a joker and quite a prankster. Peter attended the Montana School of Mines in Butte, Montana, where he graduated in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering. It was in Butte that a young nursing student, Shirley Bliss, caught his eye. They were married in Merritt, British Columbia in 1963.

Peter derived great satisfaction from his career as a mining engineer. He is a past president of both the Saskatchewan and New Brunswick branches of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum and a past president of the Nova Scotia Chamber of Mineral Resources.

Following jobs in British Columbia, Colorado, Saskatchewan and Alberta, his work took him to Sussex, New Brunswick where he was the first General Manager of the Potash Company of America (PCA) mine in Penobsquis. He was always very proud of the work he did for PCA and of the benefits that potash mining brought to the community of Sussex. After his time with PCA, Peter served as a consultant for a variety of projects in Atlantic Canada. He was an engineer at heart and was happiest when he had a project to work on. He was aided in his career by his determination and his ability to see a project through to the end despite obstacles and set backs.

A natural athlete, Peter played both football and hockey for the Montana School of Mines, where he reported he was known as The Uranium City Terror. In his leisure time, he also curled and played baseball. He enjoyed the outdoors. Vacations with Shirley and his children were spent camping and fishing and he spent many days walking his dog in the fields behind the family’s Roachville house. He loved music and frequently attended local performances. He was an avid reader of thrillers, detective novels and westerns.

Peter was a devoted member of the Saint Francis Xavier parish, where he was a lay minister, a long term member of parish council and a Sunday school teacher. He was also an active member of the Sussex Chamber of Commerce and Sussex Right to Life. 

Peter will be remembered as a true individual with a goofy sense of humour and a special talent for nicknaming his loved ones. He prided himself in finding just the right greeting card for an occasion, especially if it was a birthday or anniversary card for Shirley. He amused himself and his family by composing short, silly songs and rhymes and often expressed his affection for his wife by posting signs and poems throughout their home.

Peter was preceded in death by his parents. He will be lovingly remembered by Shirley (Bliss) Atkinson, his wife of 54 years, and his children Sue, Cathy (John) Darrow, Lisa Dudley, Carolyn (Christopher Clunas) and Steven (Jody Clarke). He will also be remembered fondly by his grandchildren, Juniper and Chloe, by his sisters Anne Langdon-Davies and Jean, and his brother Richard “Dick” and sister-in-law Carol. 

Arrangements have been entrusted to the compassionate care of Wallace Funeral Home, 34 Sunnyside Drive, Sussex, (506-433-1176) from where visitation will be held on Friday from 6-8pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated from St. Francis Xavier Church on Saturday, September 30th  at 11 am. Following the funeral there will be a time of fellowship and refreshment held in the Church Hall.

Peter’s family would like to thank Dr. Stephanie Ward, Dr. Kendra Gilmore, and the nurses and staff at the Sussex Health Centre for the compassionate care they gave Peter during his illness. The family would also like to thank their many friends and neighbours for the outpouring of support during the past months.

 If you are considering making a memorial donation the family has recommended the Canadian Cancer Society or a charity of the donor's choice.
 
www.wallacefuneralhome.com