Obituary of Wilfred C. 'Yogi' Muise, New Waterford

On the 22nd of July, 2021 at the family cabin in Georges River, surrounded by his large extended family, after a short struggle with cancer, Yogi passed peacefully away. The big bear Yogi, was a man who cherished every aspect of his 85 years. He was devoted to Joanie (MacKenzie) his wife and partner of nearly 60 years, and he seldom passed up an opportunity to brag about the multiple accomplishments of his four children; David (Marian Pelletier), Susan, Michael (Jennifer Mallette), and Stephen (Jenn Sheppard). His love for them was perhaps only challenged by the pride he had for his grandchildren; Winter, Jamie, Jody, Jordyn, Jeremy, Chris, Heather and Erika. Yogi was nested at the heart of a large New Waterford family with roots in Margaree and Cheticamp. His father Joe worked at Number 12 for over thirty years, while his mother Suzanne (“Sophie” Deveau) raised their nine children. He was predeceased by his parents, and four of his siblings; sisters, Mary (Pat Carrigan), Teresa (John Levert), and brothers, Medric (Alice) and Michael (Yvette), and daughter-in-law, Wendy. He is survived by sisters, Rose Longley (Alf) and Betty Ann MacEachern (Angus) and brothers, Delphin and Jim (Chris). A few dozen nephews and nieces scattered across the country, as well as a growing number of grandnieces and nephews, all look upon him as their anchor in Cape Breton. He welcomed all of them to the family homesteads. The only member of his large family to stay home, he became the rock on which all of his family members depended. Yogi took different pathways to his destiny as a teacher and musician. He worked in number 12 for a while in the early 1950s before returning to finish high school at Saint Agnes; that was followed by a stint in the RCAF as an aircraft technician. He came back home in 1958 to enroll at Xavier College and then at Saint Francis Xavier to complete his BA and teacher training before returning to New Waterford to stay. After a couple of years at Saint Agnes he was one of the founding faculty at Breton Education Centre, where he taught various science programs as well as introducing the geology program that – among other things included the Coal Course which gave his students a chance to tour the mines where their fathers worked. Along the way he led a dynamic teaching community toward a wide variety of innovative projects including the Coal Bowl where he shone as colour commentator on the broadcasts and served as the media director for decades. Along the way, hundreds of BEC students learned to drive with him as their instructor. His community work included an active role in the Kinsmen and in developing the Cape Breton Miners’ Museum, whose board he served over several decades including a period as chair. In all these endeavours his wise counsel was eagerly sought out. For him “problems were opportunities” and he helped solve a lot of them. Yogi was likely best known as a musician; from the kitchens in Cape Breton to across the country and beyond. As a teenager he regularly hosted friends and family to kitchen parties with his guitar and his voice. A self-taught guitar player, he regaled family and friends with those old country songs of the 40s and 50s. He took that talent to another level after the founding of the Men of the Deeps choir in the late 1960s. For over half a century he was a soloist, guitarist, and banjo player. He also served as the choir’s secretary and booking agent that started out its national career singing at Expo67 and continues to this day to tour as Cape Breton’s much honoured ambassadors. Along the way there were stops in China, Kosovo, Denver, Las Vegas, Vancouver and countless halls throughout Canada during a number of tours, some of them in the company of Rita MacNeil, who held a special place in his heart. He did all of this with his longtime choir roommate and friend, “Big” Jim MacLellan. But, it was at the family “cabin” at Georges River, which was built with friends from logs they cut locally and involved as much sweat and tears as a family could give to it. But it became the focal point of the extended family where everyone was welcome. It also gave outlet to the newly discovered farmer lingering inside Yogi, with its large garden. He and his longtime friend and garden buddy Malcolm Nemis worked tirelessly to ensure the Georges River families had plenty of fresh veggies for over 4 decades, and he and Joanie became consummate picklers of beets, chow-chow and bread and butter pickles; garden treats to be shared and exchanged with family members from near and far. Campfire sing alongs with musicians from all over the island were famous for lasting well into the night; and hardly a sour note was heard. Yogi’s big chair now sits empty but will remain the focal point for gatherings for years to come, as he would expect. Yogi’s family would like to sincerely thank all the doctors and nurses who aided him in his journey to the good ground. Cremation has taken place. Visitation will occur Sunday, July 25 from 1-5 p.m. at V.J. McGillivray Funeral Home, 380 Smith Street, New Waterford. A Funeral Mass of celebration will take place on Monday, July 26 at 10 a.m. in the Parish Church of St. Leonard, Mount Carmel Avenue, with Father Peter McLeod officiating. A livestream of the funeral can be accessed by visiting the following link: https://www.facebook.com/sheppard.jenn. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the Funeral Mass is by invitation only. Masks and social distancing are required at both the visitation and funeral. Donations in Yogi’s memory can be made to Hospice/Palliative Care Society of Cape Breton. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at: www.vjmcgillivray.ca.