Arminda “Minnie” Mae Middleton
1920-2005
Albert Sears, her father, an engineer, designed the railway through the Rocky Mountains. Her mother, Anne was getting ill so the family was forced to head east to Sackville, New Brunswick. While on the train coming across the flat lands fields of golden wheat waved as the cars clacked down the tracks. On route she died from child birth leaving Albert with a large family and a new infant. Minnie was age two. Upon arrival to Sackville, he was forced to put the youngest three out for adoption. Mother was chosen by the Reynolds and Helen Weldon. She was here until age nine when her adopted mother took ill and could no longer care for this beautiful child, she was taken to Salisbury to live with Miss Crisp, at a boarding home.
One day a letter arrived to Miss Crisp for a girl to help a lady in Bloomfield with her nursing home for the aged. Minnie went there at age 14. She worked and was loved and nurtured by her Aunt Ida Pickle, here she met Kenneth James Middleton whom she later married on July 10, 1937 at the age of 17, Ken was 24. She always said, it is better to be an old mans sweetheart than a young mans slave.
The first home they shared was in Moncton, where Betty was born. Minnie was very happy there and often told a story about a family of baby skunks that lived under their back steps. Later they moved to Anagance, where as far as Minnie was concerned was to far back in the woods for her liking. She needed to see lights and be around people. Later moving to Norton, with her family growing, they had Betty and Ira, then she had Anne. A farm came up for sale in Carsonville, which they purchased and lived on while raising the growing family. This home was humble and full of love the children often came home from school to a treat of fresh cookies or wonderful fudge. She always had a surprise.
Minnie and Ken survived the death of their son Bryant at the age of 9 months, two barn fires and the many burdens of every day life. A book that she often shared and lived by was Pollyanna. Her cup was always half full rather than half empty. She could always find the good in every situation and no matter how bad they had it, she new there was someone else who had bigger burdens.
Minnie was a devoted Christian women and loved her Lord. No week was complete without Sunday School and Church at the little white Baptist Church at the Head of Millstream. She sang in the choir, taught Sunday School and had a Mission Bank for the youth in the area of her home. Daily Vacation Bible School in the Summer was important if she was not involved in it she made sure that her children got there.
After the last Barn fire, insured for a mere thousand dollars, the family had no option but to move to Anagance, back to where Ken was the happiest as he was home. Minnie always missed the rolling hills and the privacy of the farm in Carsonville, after all she had raised her family there. It took some time for everyone to settle in. Soon the Portage Baptist Church became their new Church family. Minnie transferred her Baptist Women's Mission Society membership and the Women's Institute kept her active in the community as well.
Minnie loved to dress up and act up a bit. She always said laughter was the best medicine. “It only takes 7 muscles to smile and 63 to frown.” She'd say.
Everyone loved her Molasses cake and cookies and her grandchildren all loved her Coconut Cream Pie.
She loved to write. She always wanted to write her book. Her poetry was precious, her imagination was wonderful. She told us, “that the twinkling on the snow was fairies dancing” and “be careful when you stroll through the woods in case you step on a gnome or a fairy they hung out under the mushrooms and toad stools”.
Minnie is survived by 3 daughters; Elizabeth (Betty) Lamb and her husband Alvin of Dundalk, Ontario, Anne MacArthur and her husband Ken of Sussex, Ida Adair and her husband Larry of Waterford, 3 sons; Kenneth and his wife Sandra of Plumweseep, Avard and his wife Donna of Anagance, Reynolds and his wife Ruth of Morgan Hill, her daughter-in-law Theresa of Millbrook, 23 grandchildren; Ken and his wife Debbie, Anne and her husband Phillip, Joseph and his wife Annette, William, Kathleen and her husband Alan,
Douglas, Frank and his wife Tammy, Wayne and his wife Janice, Kevin, Linda and her husband Brad, Cindy and Randy, Natasha and her husband Peter, Shane, Sharon, Mark, Trevor and his wife Kim, Roger and his wife Leslie, Danny and his wife Connie, Miranda, Jamie, Jim and his wife Kelly, Keith and his wife Tracey and Jody and his wife Beth, 38 great grand children; Corinda, Kenneth, William, Katelyn, Melissa, April, John, Brian, Dylan, Courtney, Joshua, Jacklyn, Zachery, Jacob, Derek, Scotty, Jessie, Ryan, Sara, Luke, Wayne, Rachelle, Jaymi, Autumn, Peter, Sabrina, Anthony, Christopher, Caroline, Zackery, Jordan, Sydney, Grace, Justin, Brittney, Kelsey, Maya, Abigail, and Olivia, 1 great-great grandson, Jordan, as well as several nieces and nephews, Minnie was also predeceased by two sons; Brian and Frank, 2 brothers, Robert and Albert Sears, by her 3 sisters; Victoria, Frances and Mabel and by her great grandson Kyle.
Now, that Minnie is in heaven, all is great in her world. God Bless you dear lady and all the lives that you have nurtured and loved along the way.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Wallace Funeral Home, 34 Sunnyside Drive, Sussex, where visitation will be held on Tuesday from 2-4, 7-9 pm. The Celebration of Life will be held from Sussex United Baptist Church on Wednesday, March 2, 2005 at 11:00 with Pastor Jeff Benson and Rev. Allen Tapley officiating. There will be a time of fellowship with the family following the service. Interment will take place at Union Cemetery at 2:00pm.