Obituary of George McCaughey

It is with sadness that the family of George McCaughey announce his sudden passing at the Saint John Regional Hospital on November 8, 2024. Born February 23, 1936, in Greenock, Scotland, he was the eldest son of the late Robert and Colina (White) McCaughey.

George will be profoundly missed by the love of his life whom he met at just 17 years old, Hannah McCaughey; son John McCaughey; daughter Colina (Jim) Lutes; grandchildren Dayna (Jeremy), Michael (Christine), Thomas (Ragnheidur); great-grandchildren George, Russell, Jimmy, and William; as well as many nieces, nephews, dear friends and extended family members. He will be lovingly reunited with his parents; brothers Robert and John; and sister Jean.

In 1939 when war broke out, George’s family was forced to evacuate to the Scottish Highlands where they remained for the duration of the war. At fifteen years old, George left high school to complete his shipwright apprenticeship and began working in the shipyards. Despite being a hardworking teenager, he was still a social, typical Scottish man; between being an avid soccer player and supporter, frequenting the pubs, attending local dance halls, and supporting his favourite team, the Glasgow Rangers, George upheld a busy schedule.

George enjoyed summer camping with his friends on Loch Lomond in the town of Luss where he met his wife of 68 years. Hannah and George dated for three years before getting married. Immediately following their wedding, George was sent to Farnborough in the south of England to serve his mandatory two years in the National Service, leaving behind his new wife who gave birth to their daughter nine months later. When his term of duty ended, he returned to Greenock to work as a shipwright. He responded to an advertisement in the local paper for tradesmen willing to immigrate to Canada to work at the dry dock in Saint John, New Brunswick, where his young family would plant their roots and expand. His family was complete when his son John arrived in 1966.

For George, Canadian sports were unfamiliar. He dearly missed playing soccer, so decided with a group of his British colleagues to organize their own league. Their main competitors were Italian and European immigrants who had also come to Saint John for employment. In 1964, he started a weekly radio show providing overseas soccer results and taking requests for British music.

This contact with the Scottish community led to a lifelong involvement with the Saint John chapter of The St. Andrew’s Society, which would become a big part of his life, eventually becoming the society’s president for a term of two years. George was renown for his authentic rendition of the Ode to the Haggis.

Church was an important aspect of George’s life in Scotland, so once he immigrated to Canada, he became an active member of The Church of St. John and St. Stephen, a local presbyterian church with a large Scottish base. He became an Elder and held the position of Clerk of Session, as well as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and assisted in the development of a church nursing home. He went on to become Chairman of the Nursing Home Board and continued to volunteer after his term ended. The church provided George with many lifelong friends. They even formed a Scottish Country Dancing Group which entertained at local events for many years.

George wrapped up his employment with the shipyard to follow a new career opportunity. New Brunswick was opening six trade schools and needed tradesmen to teach the courses. George attended teachers’ college in Moncton for one year, and in 1963 went on to instruct math, drafting and blueprint reading at The Saint John Community College. He had learned how to build ships, and then shared his knowledge with others. He took all opportunities to increase his skills, including a valiant attempt to learn French so he could be misunderstood in both official languages An avid learner and reader, he continued to advance his chosen career and progressed from Instructor to Acting Principal to Dean. George retired in 1996.

George played soccer at the college until he was forty-eight years old. Following his soccer retirement, he took up a new sport – golf – which he played with the same enthusiasm he had devoted to soccer. He became a longtime member of the Riverside Golf Club and played with the Studmuffin and RRSP groups. He enjoyed hard fought golf matches with his son in law and his two grandsons.

Between 1988-1992, George entered a new phase of his life, becoming “Grampy” to one girl and two boys. He took this role very seriously, learning how to change diapers, getting up with the babies throughout the night, and walked miles answering innumerable questions. He learned the rules of basketball, sat through many ballet recitals, and had been the assistant to the assistant coach of his granddaughter’s soccer team. He was voted their most dedicated fan.

George loved his life, and he lived it well.

Arrangements are under the care of Kennebecasis Funeral Home, 152 Pettingill Road, Quispamsis, NB (506-849-2119). Visitation with George’s family will be held on Wednesday 13 between 3-5:00 pm at Riverside Golf and Country Club. A Funeral Service will be held from Grace Presbyterian Church (101 Coburg St, Saint John) on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at 11:00 AM, with interment in Fernhill Cemetery to follow. For those unable to attend the service, please join the family via livestream using the following link: https://youtube.com/live/YAVwpP4dxmQ?feature=share 

Donations in George’s memory would be greatly appreciated to Romero House or the Boys and Girls Club or the local food bank. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennebecasisfh.com.