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It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Sterling Thomas McLellan , Westchester Station, NS, on March 19, 2026 at the age of 100. Born in Chignecto, Nova Scotia on December 6, 1925 he was the son of the late Alexis McLellan and Annie Laura (Ripley) McLellan. He married the love of his life, Monica Geraldine Rector on March 22, 1947. Together they raised four children. Because he worked with the Canadian National Railways, they moved around a lot, but always within the Maritimes. Their home was always filled with love and laughter. They returned to Westchester Station where they built their retirement home. They were blessed to be able to spend 39 years there together before her passing on Christmas Eve 2020. Dad took his role as head of our family even more seriously after Mom passed. He made it his personal mission to care for everyone, right down to where we were and how we were doing. He took great pride in writing in his journal every day. There were many times when his journal entries solved our family "discussions". Dad loved to regale anyone who would listen with his stories. We were blessed that he kept his incredible sense of humour right up to the very end. We never left for home after a visit without Dad saying "I love you. Call me when you get home".

He had many interests including gardening, square dancing, playing badminton, horseshoes, reading and puzzle books, to mention but a few. Dad and Mom did the Lexicon puzzle every week and were thrilled to win once. He especially loved to play cribbage. Anybody coming to their home was always asked to have a game of crib. In fact, Dad was playing crib with Tom three days before his death. He spent many hours in the blueberry field and the sugar woods. He enjoyed going hunting in the fall with Uncle Dewey and Grampy Rector. He also spent several years involved in the Boy Scout program. He especially loved time at the Boy Scout camp at Dollar Lake. Through the good years and the bad years, he was an avid fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs.  During his life-long journey he was a steadfast member of the Church. He served on the session of the United Church in Shubenacadie. When they retired to Westchester, he was very involved in the United Baptist Church in his roles as both a Trustee and a Deacon. Dad lived his religion every day with his kind gestures of charity, compassion and love.

One of their favourite times of the year was when they moved out to the cottage at Tidnish Docks for the summer months. Dad always had a huge garden that he planted himself. He took great joy from giving the fruits of his labour away to all of the other cottage goers. He would go and have daily visits with his family members and friends that also had cottages there. Swimming when the tide was high brought so many fun family memories that we will never forget. As children we always knew Mom and Dad would welcome any extra friends or neighbours to our table. Dad had a love of animals, from Trixie the dog, to watching deer, pheasants, snow buntings and hummingbirds just outside his window in Westchester. He fed the crows and the other birds daily. Imagine his surprise when, on the first day he moved to The Gables, he saw six deer and two pheasants from his bedside.

Dad's first job was delivering ice with his uncle using a horse and wagon. Then he made deliveries of coal with his first truck. From there he went to work with Canadian National Railways (CNR). His spent most of his time with the CNR as a station agent up until 1972. Back in those days baby chicks, etc. were sent by train, so there were a lot of special nights when Dad would bring them inside to keep them warm under the kitchen stove. Oh, we loved those times! They moved to Moncton where Dad worked in the Customer Service Department for another 10 years until his retirement in 1982, at the age of 57.

He is survived by children Patsy Adams, Westchester Station, NS; Thomas and Susan McLellan, Milford, NS; Susan and Hugh Dickie, Halifax, NS; Ruth Anne and Graham Conway, Hillsborough, NB; grandchildren Carl Adams and Lara Scholey, Pointe Claire, QC; Aaron Adams and BJ MacDonald, Elmsdale, NS; David and Shannon McLellan, Brookfield, NS; Aaron McLellan, Upper Musquodoboit, NS; Janet and Jason Barr, Milford, NS; Trudi and Peter O'Connell, Half Way Brook, NS; James and Kimberly Dickie, Edmonton, AB; Mark Sheehy, Vancouver, BC; Laura Sheehy, Winnipeg, MB; Tarah and Lee Miller, Fredericton, NB; Jennifer Conway and Aniko Dani, Calgary, AB.  He was also blessed with more than 20 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Gwenneth McCormick, Maccan, NS; brother John and Christie Anne McLellan, Amherst, NS; brother-in-law Dewis Rector, Charlottetown, PE; many beloved nieces and nephews.

He has missed Mom everyday since her passing in 2020. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by Monica's parents Dewis & Ruth Rector, brother Oswald (Bill) McLellan and wife Anna, sister Carol and her husband Earl Burbine, brother-in-law Stanley (Gwenneth) McCormick, sister-in-law Jean (Dewis) Rector, nieces and nephews Elizabeth Rector, Margo and Barry Anderson and Peter Edwards.

The family would like to thank the following for their care; Westchester Fire Dept., NSH Continuing Care, NSH Ambulance service, Westchester United Baptist Church and the church field, Dr Karivelil and staff of the Joshy A. Karivelil Clinic, Springhill, doctors and staff at both the Springhill and Amherst hospitals, Doctors and staff at The Gables Nursing Home.

Visitation will be held from 1-2 p.m., followed by memorial service at 2 pm. on Friday, June 19, both in MacDiarmid's Funeral Home & Crematorium, 5075 Main Street, Oxford, NS.

Condolences may be forwarded to the family by visiting the funeral home website at www.mmcfunerals.com

Given that his dedication to the church was his foundation, donations can be made to the Westchester United Baptist Church, PO Box 5, Westchester Station, NS  B0M 2A0.

Although it's difficult today,
to see beyond the sorrow,
may looking back in memory
comfort you tomorrow.