RIVER JOHN, NS - There aren’t many politicians that are called by a nickname, but anyone who knew Fluff Baillie really wouldn’t know her by anything else.
Muriel Unice “Fluff” Baillie of River John passed away Sept. 22 and those who knew her best, remember her for her sense of humour, kindness, passion for helping others and of course, her unique name.
“Her father gave her the nickname shortly after she was born and it stuck. Really at a certain time, if someone called her Muriel, I wouldn’t know who they were talking about,” said Ron Baillie, a county councillor for the River John area and brother-in-law to Fluff.
Growing up in River John together, Baillie said Fluff was a woman who excelled at everything she did in life including being a teacher, principal, mother, wife and friend.
“She lit up a room when she came in and she was very well respected in our community,” he said. “But also well respected in everything she was involved in.”
He said she was always involved behind the scenes in politics, but when the 1999 provincial election was drawing close and the Progressive Conservative Party didn’t have a candidate, Fluff put her name forward.
“She was a people person politician,” she said. “She really enjoyed helping people.”
Fluff won the 1999 election and was the first woman to be elected as an MLA for Pictou West.
Current Pictou West MLA Karla MacFarlane said Baillie was a mentor to her when she first entered the political ring.
“She took me under her wing,” she said. “She shared a lot of information, knowledge and wisdom with me about being a female in a profession that was still dominated by men.”
MacFarlane said Baillie was always encouraging other women to enter politics at all levels of government.
“We became really good friends,” she said. “She would call me up and tell me what I should and shouldn’t do. I always took her words of wisdom very seriously and was grateful she took the time to share thoughts to help me transition into a role that she had previous experience with.”
MacFarlane said Baillie was a person who made people feel at ease with her great sense of humour and her ability to make everyone feel included in any situation.
Luke Young, who was the campaign chairman for Ballie in 1999, said he liked her from the first time he met her.
“I first got to know her out in River John at her home,” he said. “She had a wonderful house and she loved her property. When I visited her, she would always say, ‘come in and have a beer’. That was probably what warmed me up to her.”
Young said Baillie served her constituents and will always be considered a friend.
“She really felt the issues,” he said. “One of the issues was health care and concerns around the number of physicians and whether there were appropriate facilities in Pictou West. She took it personally knowing people were effected by decisions made in government. “
Baillie retired from provincial politics after one term and continued to enjoy life on the golf course, curling rink and was known for her faithful attendance at the Pictou County Crushers games.
Visitation will be held in McLaren Funeral Home, Pictou on Thursday, Sept. 27 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. A Celebration of Life will be held in Salem United Church, River John, on Friday, Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. followed by burial in Mountain Road Cemetery, River John.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Salem United Church (Box 190, River John) or Mountain Road Cemetery (Box 69, River John).
“Alternatively, you can pay tribute to Fluff if you go for a walk, take a swim, watch baseball, cheer hockey, share a meal, enjoy music, learn something new, support your community, or most importantly, laugh,” reads the last line of her obituary.
