The family invites you to join them on Friday, Aug. 19, 2022 at 1 pm for Lorin's Interment, held in Murray Harbour Cemetery.  A reception will follow at 2 pm in the Murray Harbour Communty Centre.  All are welcome.

 

 

Lorin MacPhee Brehaut passed away on September 17, 2020 at his residence in Murray Harbour at the age of 84. Lorin was the son of Thomas Whitney Brehaut and Elizabeth (Lizzie MacPhee) Brehaut. Lorin was predeceased by his beloved wife Shirley Ann (Harris) Brehaut in 2016. He is survived by his children, James Stewart, Paula (Ted) Maclean, Lorin Jr. (Sandra Strain), Lori (Stephen) Chapman, Scott, and son-in-law John Slavin; brother John Brehaut (Sandra) sister Isobel Vail (Ernest deceased); grandchildren Danny (Hannah), Sara, Shirley, Rachael, Leah, Stewart, Ryan, Whitney, Logan, Chloe, Claire, Sydney, Scott and Isabella; great-grandchildren Ellowyn, Ava and Nolan. He was predeceased by daughter Lynn Stewart, grandsons David and Eric, Shirley’s parents Jim and Gladys Harris and her siblings Joan and Valda.

While Lorin passed away in the house in which he was born, his life took him on a long, sometimes happy, sometimes sad, but always loving journey. After completing his education at the Murray Harbour school he attended the Provincial Vocation School in Charlottetown where he was trained as a carpenter. His first job was boatbuilding with Nelson Bell in White Sands. Seeking further opportunity he moved to New Brunswick, to work on the construction of Camp Gagetown. When construction finished, he embarked on a career with Dominion Stores in Fredericton and Dalhousie. It is a great testament to his personality and character that almost 60 years after leaving New Brunswick he still kept regularly in touch with many of his friends and co-workers from that time, including his friends Dianne and Reg with whom he shared many emails and calls.

Shortly after his arrival back home in the early 1960s he and Shirley married. They were to enjoy a long and loving marriage, though one that was subject to challenge as two of their children were involved in automobile accidents which resulted in them becoming paraplegic. No such struggle ever stopped the parents, children, or children’s children, from pushing on to achieve their goals and exhibiting a positive attitude. The losses of Shirley four years ago and of daughter Lynn within the past year were very difficult for Lorin though he persevered through them as best he could, always offering a smile and lift of the spirits to all.

After he had returned back to PEI, Lorin briefly tried his hand at farming but his love of the grocery business led to him operating the Murray Harbour Clover Farm village grocery store for many years. While doing so, he and Shirley purchased a soft ice cream machine and started selling that and other fast food out of the store window. This later evolved into Brehaut’s Restaurant, a famed local institution for over forty years. Once the Clover Farm store closed, Lorin worked as a meat cutter for several years, and never missed a day opening up Brehaut’s when daughters Paula and Lori took over the business.

Despite all of his other activities Lorin was able to refurbish the family farmhouse which had been constructed by his great grandfather in the late 1800s and turn it into a comfortable modern home which became a favourite gathering place for family and friends.

All the while, Lorin’s predominant devotion was to his family and to his community. He served on the Village Council, the local Fire Department and was a long-time member of the Murray Harbour Cemetery Board of Directors. He was an avid supporter of the Liberal party and worked behind the scenes at the local level. He was a great raconteur and loved a good joke and exchanging stories about some of the local characters and traditions.

His passing leaves a void in the community and a deep void in his family which will never be filled. He will be remembered as a man without pretension who was deeply loved by his immediate and extended family and highly esteemed and held dear by the community at large who will miss both his presence and seeing him out on his regular morning walk along the Cove Road. He will be missed!

Resting at the Ferguson-Logan Funeral Home, Montague. Because of Covid-19 restrictions a celebration of Lorin’s life will be held at a later date. Donations in his memory can be made to the Murray Harbour Cemetery (C/O Lily Baker, RR # 4, Murray River, PE, C0A 1W0).