Obituary of Myles D. Russell

With sadness, the family wishes to announce the passing of Myles Russell, of Doaktown N.B., one month after his 99th birthday, peacefully in his sleep following a brief illness.

Myles is survived by brother Claude Russell (Lillian) and daughters Carolyn Russell (George), Janice Wellwood (Buddie), Nancy Carleton (David), grandchildren Shawn Price, Gillian Carleton and Russell Carleton (Kayanne), and Alex (Lisa) and Sebastian (Lana) Hadjiantoniou and great-grandchildren Luca, Altea and Apollo.

Myles is predeceased by his wife Joan (MacKenzie) of 55 years (2007), son-in-law Wilfred Price (2010), daughter Heather Russell (2025), sisters Helen Fredeen, Olive Cripps, Marguerite Surrette, Alma Toogood, Audrey Palmer, and brothers Lloyd and Stanley.

Myles was one of nine children of Robert and Edith Russell. He shared many stories about growing up on a farm and learning responsibility at an early age (for milking cows and picking strawberries). Later, he worked in the family-owned business Russell & Swim Ltd. (R&S), learning mill operations and forest management (from Uncle Roy Mitchell).

In 1947, Myles graduated with a Bachelor of Forestry from UNB, and after working for two years, studied at Yale University, graduating with a Master’s in Forestry. In 1950, he joined Bathurst Power and Paper where he worked for nine years. In 1952 he married the love of his life, Joan, whom he first saw singing in the St. Thomas United Church choir. In 1959, he moved back to Doaktown to become the Woodlands Manager within R&S. In 1966, in addition to this role, he became President, joining his brothers Lloyd (Vice President and General Manager) and Claude (Vice President and Mill Manager) in the management of R&S.

Myles managed the company forest holdings through evolving harvesting systems from men and horses to increased reliance on heavy machinery. He was always concerned about sustainable forest practices. While most R&S forest operations were becoming mechanized, Myles was convinced there were always suitable forest conditions to maintain the tradition of horse-logging and he took pride in hosting visitors at the mill and woods to see these crews in action.

In the 70s, Myles disagreed with industry opinion that N.B. white pine was “finished” as a commercial tree species; the Maritime Lumber Bureau (MLB), in 1973, created the White Pine Committee with Myles as Chairman. The resulting education and training procedures produced more white pine logs and streamlined processing and handling, while yielding higher grades and profits for Maritime lumber companies.

Myles was recognized for his dedication to the forestry industry: inducted into the N.B. Forestry Hall of Fame in 1994, awarded the MLB Man of the Year award in 1988, and inducted into the Central N.B. Woodmen’s Museum Hall of Fame in 2009, to name a few.

With the values instilled through his family and work life, Myles was also community-oriented. He supported the family tradition of ensuring there were R&S jobs for people who needed them. He was a former Councillor with the Village of Doaktown and donated the land required to establish the original Doaktown Health Clinic. He was a member of the St. Thomas United Church and taught Sunday school for many years. For recreation (when not communing with trees!), he enjoyed curling at the Doaktown Curling Club, watching Hockey Night in Canada, and snowmobiling (AKA scouting forest land). In addition to raising a family of four daughters (with only one bathroom), he and his wife Joan supported many community events ranging from Terry Fox walks to supporting the local library and concerts. After his retirement in 1992, he spent several years canvassing for the Tree House, which provided an opportunity to visit with mill owners throughout the Maritimes.

When the children were young, there were family picnics, Maritime vacations, and many tours of R&S roads under construction on Crown land. Once the children moved out, Myles and Joan continued to travel. They spent time in Florida and Hawaii, enjoyed MLB trips to Europe and visited family in Ontario and B.C. Yet they were equally happy at home, tending a large vegetable garden and spending time with friends and family.

For the last 11 years, Myles lived at the Windsor Court Retirement Residence in Fredericton where he enjoyed telling stories to the staff, musical activities, Bingo, conversations with residents, and especially the food! Our sincere thanks to the Windsor Court staff for the years of conversation, music, exercises and loving care provided, particularly in later years, to manage his ongoing dementia. Also, thank you to Dr. Heman Chow for his many years of health care and advice for the family.

Dad/Grampie will always be remembered for his remarkable memory and his love of storytelling, sometimes relaying the complete history of N.B. along with the weather details amidst his tales. We will cherish our memories of his love and care for all of us, his belief in the best within us, and his absolute joy and laughter during phone calls and while celebrating family events. We will miss him.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the St. Thomas United Church, Doaktown, N.B. on Sunday May 4 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Brian Curtis officiating, followed by a reception at the Atlantic Salmon Museum in Doaktown. Interment will take place in the St. Thomas United Church Cemetery. If desired, memorial donations may be made to the N.B. Alzheimer’s Society, or UNB School of Forestry. Personal condolences may be offered through www.yorkfh.com.