In loving memory of
John Weston Baxter
The family have chosen this music to commemorate their loved one.
John Weston Baxter
First breath May 15, 1951
Last breath May 6, 2025
If it is true that puns are the highest form of wit and intelligence then John’s humour was award winning. In his heyday he was a punster extraordinaire; so very clever with his one-offs and malapropisms. But if also true that puns are the lowest form of humour then John was hanging out at the bottom of the comedy ladder. He just couldn’t help it. The Goon Show, Pogo, Calvin & Hobbes, Herman, The Far Side helped shape John’s quirky sense of humour and sense of timing which he fine tuned over the years.
He created irreverent comic strips in his school scribblers and uniquely funny titles and covers for the hundreds of CD’s he compiled to share his unique style with friends and family.
For John, music was truly in his heart and hands and he seldom was without it. Music was the lynchpin from which all else pivoted: the wonderful sounding Ovation guitar that he played so many favourite songs on (especially the Beatles and Elton John); the sound systems he created for both himself and others; the previously mentioned CDs (so no one would be without SOME tunes) and watching loud concerts with surround sound on the big screen he “just had to have”. (Turns out this has been a real treat over the years. Thanks John.)
John had a penchant for the ocean. Maybe because he grew up overlooking the Harbour on Johnstone Avenue in Dartmouth. He graduated DHS in 1969 and did a stint with the Coast Guard icebreaker, the Louis St Laurent. When he took the hydraulics course in Guelph at Conestoga did he already know he wanted to work on the ocean installing and troubleshooting hydraulic systems all over the world? Don’t know, but he ended up working for Hawboldt Industries in Chester which took him to exotic (and not so exotic) places for most of his career.
Eventually in 2011 he was able to captain his own ship – the ‘Rock ‘n Roll’ a 40’ Sea Ray with twin 454’s in which he installed an awesome stereo (of course). Plying the waters of St Margaret’s and Mahone Bay with sojourns down to the Lahave and glorious mornings at Rogues Roost were vacation and weekend locations for over 10 years. Taking friends and family out on the water was a special joy for John. Retired and on the verge of bank rupt sea (
nudge nudge) he eventually hung up his captain’s hat, with no regrets.
Being a kid at heart John was and will remain a favourite uncle and grandfather. He never shooed the kids away; always had time for play. He loved mixing and making words and phrases up to the delight of young minds. Creating Metropoly (a double Monopoly game with all kinds of fun stuff) expanded playing time by hours and was a hit with the sons, nieces, and nephews with games sometimes taking a whole weekend. Those were the days! John loved cats and was never very long without one or more in his life. His latest iteration was Milo, a big fat lazy rescue cat everyone (especially the kids) loved. John was a sweet, kind, funny, creative, super smart guy who rarely complained even in the last weeks of his life (except when Jo left the cinnamon off his porridge!). At heart a shy man, when he was with close friends and family he enjoyed the opportunity to share his sense of the off-beat, often with hilarity ensuing.
John was born in Nanaimo on May 15, 1951 to Joan Elizabeth (McLellan) and Arthur Weston Baxter. In 1956 his family came back to NS. He and his siblings were surrounded by many books, the CBC and lively political discussions. Many family hikes and camping along the shores of NS enriched Johns life immeasurably.
In his late teens he developed a love of hot cars (especially his beloved red P1800 Volvo) which morphed into a love for fast cars and great tires. John also loved hot sauce, hot coffee, hot women and comfortable shoes.
John slipped away in the early hours of May 6th at home in Southwest Cove as per his wishes surrounded by love and family.
He leaves behind a legacy of music, laughter and sense of fun to his sons Michael Baxter, Vancouver (Terrene Conway, son Rowen), Thomas Baxter, Dartmouth, (partner Amy Prince), stepsons Caleb Carlos, Black River, (Sammy Everett children Calya, Arwyn, Everet) Wil Carlos, Black River (Megan Kalaman, daughter Maeve, “adopted” daughter-in-law Meredith Kalaman).
He is also survived by his wife Joanne, his mother Elizabeth, Dartmouth, his brothers Arthur, Bedford (Susan MacDonald), David, Balmoral Mills (Deb Plestid) and his sister Joan, Balmoral Mills (Karlheinz Eyrich). The Dunsworth in-laws and a small army of nephews and nieces on both sides of his family will miss Johnny B.
A Celebration of Life will be held May 17, 2025 (2-4) at Ocean Swells Community Center, Highway 329, Northwest Cove.
Donations may be made to his favourite causes Pathway To Progress Nicaragua or the Friends of CBC.
PRINTABLE VERSION
SERVICES & GATHERINGS
Celebration of Life
Ocean Swells Community Centre
May 17, 2025 4:00 pm
2726 NS-329, Hubbards Hubbards, NS
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Service Note
Family and friends are invited to share memories, stories, and support each other during an informal celebration of John’s life from 2:00 p.m until 4:00 p.m at the Ocean Swells Community Centre on Saturday, May 17, 2025.FAVOURITE CAUSES
PHOTOS
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So sorry to hear of John’s passing. I had the privilege of travelling with John on many work trips during my employment with Hawboldts. He was an amazing guy to work with. I have learned so much from John over the years. We spent many days travelling and exploring during our work trips.
( getting lost in Spain is an event I will never forget, John’s calmness and his stories were infectious.) The highlight of any business trip to NS was spending time with John. Loved the trips on his boat and visits to his house. And was honoured to do the same for him when he visited NL. Condolences to Joanne and family! Thanks for the memories, till we meet again my friend!
John got me my first job working in a mental hospital, back in the summer of ‘72. He was a psych orderly in a hospital based on the old Halifax County Poor Farm, caring for adult-size patients with the mental age of infants, a challenging but fulfilling job, and he recommended me to Mrs Hemsworth the Director of Nursing…
Losing a loved one is never easy, overwhelming for all of us, adjusting to life without, a living nightmare of loneliness. Wishing to have known John better. Fascinating life, he had it all, close to the bay, talented with musics and loving large family (et très plaisant). My sincere condolences to the family, Doris Plestid
To the Baxter Family,
I was sorry to hear of John’s passing. I was honoured and privileged to work for your father, Weston, at Surfline Engineering and met John once on Johnstone Avenue. Thinking of all of you at this time.
Condolences,
Lynne Erickson
Dear John letter….
My ole pal, thankyou for including me as a very welcome recipient of the infamous “dinner party” tapes. I can still boogie around the kitchen to those incredible DJ worthy tapes. Feel the angels are blasting tunes along with you and the Beatles, minus, Ringo upstairs 😇😉….xxx
You were the best my friend! The Charmaniac
Rick Zehr warned me that both John and Phil Payzant’s families had very impressive Hi-Fi systems. “Of course they do, I mocked, they’re both P Engineers.” Because Flanders & Swan had taught me to laugh at people with fancy hi-fis. But when I visited I realized both families collected LPs like my parents collected books and I had ‘lucked’ into a vast, semi-public, library of music, because back then the public library had no LPs and cbc/private radio provided a very thin gruel for teens. I was always grateful that John gave me a real education in popular music circa the 1960s…
Joanne Dunsworth and John Baxter in Barcelona, tourists listening dutifully at the Sagrada
John Baxter in 2005
John Baxter, his mother Beth Baxter, Susan MacDonald and Arthur Baxter at the wedding of John’s niece, Katie Plestid, in August 2015.
Joanne Dunsworth and John Baxter on their 2015 trip to Spain
John with his sons Thomas and Carlos, and nephew Bobo in 2003 at the July 1 party at Jeff and Laura Dunsworth’s place
John Baxter and his brother David on sax with John’s son Thomas in the foreground, at the 2014 celebration of the life of John’s father, Wes Baxter
John with his mother in 2004.
Joanne and family, please accept our heartfelt condolences. John, ever the soft spoken gent. Witty and appreciative of a jolly good laugh. So many wonderful times around the fire and playing guitars. Lovely man. Generous of spirit and time, so many great boat rides in the Bay. John always had a kind word and action. Sending you our warmest thoughts.
john’s high school photo, retrieved from a 1969 Dartmouth High yearbook by his best friend Phil Payzant, I think I detect John ‘s characteristic look of bemusement in its half grin
I remember one of John’s cards. I think he made it for his Uncle Carlton. He drew a turntable with a fly on it. Beside that was a hand holding a can of Off, finger on the button. The fly was saying “Stop the Off, I want to get whirled.” He was a kind, gentle, intelligent, artistic person. My heart goes out to his loved ones.
Our Captain, our entertainer and friend John. A kind and caring guy with a great sense of humor, loving husband to Joanne and all around great person. John, you will be missed and remebered.
John was MAD MAGAZINE’s unofficial ambassador to oh-so-straight Dartmouth of the 1960s, encouraging all us students at PRINCE ARTHUR and DARTMOUTH HIGH to see the absurd almost everywhere we looked…