Obituary of John Francis Moorhead
MOORHEAD L. Th., C.D., John Francis died on June 1, 2004 at Great Oaks Special Care Home, MacDonald's Point, NB, having suffered a stroke on June 4, 1997. Born May 1, 1925 at Grandmere PQ, he was the younger son of the late Right Reverend William Henry Moorhead and Clarissa Mabel Moorhead (nee Wilson), and attended Rothesay Collegiate School. In 1943 he joined the RCNVR, trained as an anti aircraft gunner and on various ships in the North Atlantic convoy system. After five years at King's College, with two summers on the north shore of the St. Lawrence, he was ordained Deacon on January 1, 1950 and Priest on December 21, 1950. Following a period as assistant at St. Anne's Parish Church, Fredericton, he served as a Chaplain in Canada and to the 1st and 2nd RCR, the 25th Field Ambulance and then the 3rd Battalion PPCLI all in Korea and in Germany. Following his release from the Canadian Army he served in five Anglican Parishes in New Brunswick and one in Manitoba and continued his military ministry as Chaplain to Air Cadets and militia in both Fredericton, NB and Dauphin, Manitoba. Since 1985 he was involved with CNMT (HMCS Sackville) of Halifax, serving as ship's Chaplain, a trustee and a member of National Council. He retired January 1, 1990. John is survived by his wife Rosemary (nee Harcourt Vernon), his three daughters Margaret Patricia Hallett (James), Nancy Catherine McPhee (Michael) and Cynthia Mabel Bernier (Jack). In addition to his parents, John was predeceased by his brother Walter Alexander and by a niece Eleanor Alexandra. After cremation a service of worship will be held at Trinity Anglican Church, Sussex on Saturday June 5, 2004 at 11:00 AM, with a reception following in the Church hall. Donations to the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust would be appreciated by the family and may be made by contacting Sussex Select Community Funeral Home (506-433-2133) or on the website at www.sussexfh.com Thank you to Dr. Robert Stevenson for care given to John and particularly since the stroke in 1997, to the many caregivers, and to Dr. Dianne Stackhouse for her special care during John's last year.