John Frederick Parkhill, 84, of Sussex, passed away at the Sussex Health Center surrounded by his family on August 4, 2014. Born in Red Bank near Chipman NB on December 10, 1929, John was the son of the late Fred and Florence (nee Brown) Parkhill. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Parkhill (nee Belyea); his daughters: Karen Smyth (Bruce Heaps) of Caledon, On, Kathryn Parkhill (Peter Campbell) of Kelowna, BC, and Kim Parkhill (Dr. Robert Pottle) of Halifax, NS; his 4 grandchildren Nicole Hurley, Chris Smyth, Krysti Pyett and Jayson Little and five great-grandchildren; his sister: Audrey Godfrey (Jim) of Riverview; brother: Dr. Winston Parkhill (Mary) of Halifax, NS; cousins Janette Barr and Bette Zagorski, as well as many treasured nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. John spent his early years on the family farm in Red Bank, then moved into the Village of Chipman where he helped with his father’s lumber business as a truck driver. He graduated from Chipman Superior School in 1946 and from the Department of Commerce at Saint John Vocational School in 1947. He then worked as a bookkeeper and auditor for a small business, then accepted employment with Ashfield’s Ltd. in Fredericton. It was there he started his family with Phyllis, welcoming Karen and Kathryn into the world. (Kim came along much later. Surprise!) He returned to Chipman to the family business, this time as a bookkeeper. In 1957 he began a 33 year career with the Province of New Brunswick in the Department of Transportation at the District Office in Chipman. By the time of his retirement in 1990, he was District Executive Officer, outlasting several District Managers, and well-loved by the “girls” at the office. Aside from enjoying curling, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, sailing, carpentry and hours of tinkering to fix just about everything, he was a dedicated family man, proud of his younger sister and brother, and particularly so of his daughters and their accomplishments, large and small. He was especially happy to spend summers at the cottage he built with care on Grand Lake, next to his cousin Janette and (eventually) brother Winston. It was not uncommon to see him felling trees in the woods with his chainsaw, wearing his D.O.T. hard hat or out in the canoe with his wallet still in his pocket and life vest strapped on, even though he couldn’t swim. He finally took swimming lessons in Fredericton one winter later in his fifties. (That didn’t keep the wallet from getting wet though!). Evenings, he would stack bonfires for the kids, kindled by his hand-split wood, or you could find him challenging Winston, Terry O’Brien, Charles Barr and Ray Young in a competitive game of cribbage. John was very active in the Chipman United Church, taking a turn in various roles including on the Board of Stewards, as an Elder, Recording Steward, Clerk of Session, Superintendent of Sunday School, President of Adult Group and an enthusiastic choir member. In Chipman, he also served the community over the years in many ways including: Street and Light Commission, Home & School Association, Chipman Community Rink & Planning Board, Board of Chipman Arena, Board of School Trustees (Chair), Chipman Community Policing (Chair), Neighborhood Watch (Coordinator), Board of Chipman Outreach, driver for Meals on Wheels, Chipman Library Foundation (Treasurer) and Chipman Square Dance Group (President). He was also president of the Kennebec Aces Square Dance Group. John moved with Phyllis to Sussex Corner in 1995, then Sussex proper in 2005, where he enjoyed a quieter retired life which included attending St. Paul’s United Church, getting “fined” at regular Golden K’s meetings and attending singing engagements with the Sussex Vale Golden K Ramblers. The final years of his life were spent under the care of the nurses and staff at Kiwanis Nursing home where he would still go to meetings of the Parkinson’s Association and Golden K’s, and tapped his toes to the many musical acts that came in to entertain. He will be remembered for his eagerness to chat the ear off a stranger, extend gracious hospitality to visitors, his quiet but profound care for his family, his love of music and in particular, of dancing. Even though his mobility was severely challenged in the last year of his life, he would want to get up with whomever would take a turn with him. Arrangements have been entrusted to the professional care of Sussex Select Community Funeral Home, 21 Aiton Road, Sussex, from where visitation will be held on Friday August 8, 2014 from 2-4 pm. A private family service was held. The interment will be held in Chipman at the Red Bank Cemetery. Donations to Canadian Diabetic Association, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Parkinson’s Foundation or to a charity of your choice would be appreciated by the family. On-line condolences are available at: www.sussexfh.com