Obituary of Margaret Ellen Arthur

Margaret Ellen Arthur (nee. Crosby) - was born on July 28, 1920 in Wivenhoe, Essex, England and died on April 23, 2016 in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. Margaret graduated with a Cambridge School Certificate in 1937 from the North Walsham High School in Norfolk and then began her general nursing training at Leicester Royal Infirmary. Completing her final exam in 1940, she subsequently gained specialty certification in both Infectious Diseases and Midwifery by 1945. From 1949 to 1954, Margaret served as a Nursing Sister (Lieutenant) with the Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service (QARNNS), the nursing branch of the British Royal Navy. Her service with the QARNNS took her to Trincomalee, Sri Lanka where she met and married Lieutenant Percival Clive Arthur. They returned to England to raise a family. In 1962, Margaret, her husband and three young children immigrated to Canada. Margaret continued to work as a Registered Nurse in a variety of location across Nova Scotia, most recently in Annapolis Royal General Hospital. She retired in 1985. Margaret was a lifelong member of the Historic Restoration Society of Annapolis County, the Historical Association of Annapolis Royal, and the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens Society as well as a member of the Arts Council. An avid gardener, she was a long-time member of the Champlain Garden Club and was awarded the title of “Gardener of the Year” in 1992 by the Nova Scotia Association of Garden Clubs. Margaret is predeceased by her sisters Nancy Crosby and Dorothy Dean (Donovan Dean) and by her brothers Frank Crosby (Eve), Tony Crosby (Shirley) and Ronald Crosby (Pearl). She is survived by her son David Arthur (Sherryl Trask), her daughter Jean Crosby, her daughter Alison Arthur (Kevin McKaigue), her granddaughter Molly Crosby, and her grandson Jonathan Murphy (Arien Johnston). Following Margaret’s request her body was donated to medical science. After cremation, a private family ceremony will be held and Margaret’s ashes will be interred in Woodlawn Cemetery, Annapolis Royal. Donation in memory may be made to the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens P.O. Box 278, Annapolis Royal, NS B0S 1A0. On line condolences may be made at www.kaulbachfamilyfuneralhome.com