Obituary of Hallam Neil Straghan MACKENZIE

MACKENZIE, Hallam “Neil” Straghan June 19, 1925 – March 21, 2012 Hallam “Neil” Straghan MacKenzie was born in Barbados, started his career in Calgary and lived for many years at Farley Hill, Umhlali, South Africa. He returned to Calgary in 2006 and died on March 21, 2012 at the age of 86. He graduated from McGill University with MSc honours and taught at Yale for a year before becoming a Petroleum Geologist in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He surveyed the Amazon basin, and operated in the Arctic areas of Northern Canada, his work took him around the globe. He met his second wife Lorette (Lolly) in New York and after they were married they settled in Cape Town, South Africa and then moved to the beautiful semi-tropical area of Umhlali in 1981. While he continued in the oil industry he also wrote two excellent books and was working on a scientific paper dealing with Einstein’s Theory of Relativity when his brilliant mind began to falter. He was an accomplished flamenco guitarist, a marvellous raconteur, had a lovely singing voice and enjoyed keeping fit. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by his wife, Lolly; their daughter Laura; his children Karen and David and their mother Jean; his grandchildren Sandy, William, Elizabeth, Jennifer, John, Christopher, Nathan, Abigail, Joshua and great grandchild Bailey. As he has many family members in Barbados including two brothers and a sister, nephews and nieces and their children, Neil will be buried in Barbados in early April. Passion and Power Big man, big heart. Great mind, great love. Memorial Services will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Eastside Memorial Chapel (5388 Memorial Drive N.E.) on Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In living memory of Neil MacKenzie, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Eastside Memorial Chapel, 5388 MEMORIAL DRIVE N.E., Calgary, AB Telephone: 403-248-8585.