MACFIE - At Langhouse, Inverkip on Wednesday, 7^th November 1934, in his 86^th year, Johnstone Macfie, M.D., of Langhouse and Beach, elder surviving son of the late Robert Macfie of Airds and Oban. Funeral at the Crematorium, Western Necropolis, Glasgow, on Friday, 9^th November at 2.30 p.m. Friends desirous of attending please notify Messrs Wylie and Lochhead, Ltd., 96 Union Street Glasgow. Cars will leave St George's place, Glasgow, at 2.15 p.m. This is the only intimation and invitation. No flowers (by special request)

 

From the Oban Times.

DEATH OF DR JOHNSTONE MACFIE

Family Connection with Oban

The death occurred on Wednesday last of Dr Johnstone Macfie of Langhouse, Inverkip, at the age of 85 years. He practised in Glasgow for a considerable number of years, and was well known as an ear and eye specialist. Retiring in 1900, he resided at Langhouse, Inverkip.

Dr Macfie was the elder surviving son of the late Robert Macfie, of Airds and Oban, whose benefactions are remembered in the burgh, and from whom Airds Crescent derived its name. Dr Macfie's younger brother, Brigadier A. L. Macfie, C.B., is now the only surviving son of the family.

Their father, Robert Macfie, who had acquired a fortune in the sugar refining industry, purchased the estate of Airds in 1851, and also became an extensive proprietor in Oban and owner of the estate of Oban and Kingairloch. He maintained a close relationship with Oban, and it will be remembered, he gifted £1000 towards the erection of the new Municipal Buildings, and feued ground at a nominal rate to the Town Council for the purpose of building workmen's dwellings. This was in 1890, and practically allowed Oban to be the pioneer in housing schemes. When Argyll Square Free Church was built, he contributed £1000 towards the funds, and the "Macfie Holiday Benefaction", which he founded for the Lorn Presbytery, was a further proof of his liberality. The benefaction enables the members of the Presbytery in rotation to enjoy a holiday.

Among the legacies recorded after his death in January 1899 affecting the Highlands were:- £6000 for churches and manses of the Free Church in the Highlands and Islands; £1000 each, Port Appin Free Church, Oban (English) Free Church and Morvern Free Church Sustentation Funds; £2000 to the Sustentation Fund of the Free Church; and £1000 to the Highlands and Islands Scheme of the Free Church.

He was survived by Mrs Macfie and five sons and three daughters. His eldest son, Colonel William Macfie, C.B., of Liverpool, succeeded to the Airds property. He married in 1867 the second daughter of Mr James Allan, Glasgow, of the then Allan Steamship Line. Colonel Macfie died in 1912. He was the donor of the Macfie Gold Medal at the Oban High School.

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In our reference to the late Dr Johnstone Macfie in last week's issue, it should have been stated that the donor of the "Macfie Gold Medal at the Oban High School" was the late Robert Macfie of Airds and Oban, father of the late Colonel William Macfie and of Dr Johnstone Macfie.

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THE LATE DR MACFIE

Inverkip Tribute

At a united remembrance service held in the West Church, Inverkip, on Sunday, Rev. R. T. Fairbairn made reference to the death of Dr Macfie. He said :-

"It is fitting on this Remembrance Day, when we are talking of the brave men who gave their lives in the Great War, that I should pay a tribute of loving respect to the late Dr Johnstone Macfie, of Langhouse, who was called to his rest last week.

Dr Macfie bore an honoured name in this parish and neighbourhood. He was of the fourth generation of the Macfie family resident at Langhouse - first the great-grandfather, then the grandfather, then the father, and then the son - all of them honoured citizens, and devoted churchmen. When Dr Macfie retired fro his medical work in Glasgow he took up residence in the home where he had spent many happy boyhood days. Since then, more than 30 years ago, he has been a devoted office-bearer and member of the congregation that worships in this church. He loved the House of God, and despite his infirmity of total deafness, he was a regular worshipper, following with interest the praise and Scripture reading, and in the communion of his own heart finding it good for him to draw near to God in the fellowship of his brethren.

He was a man of distinct individuality, with deep convictions that he was never afraid to declare, and he was a brave man who never allowed his infirmity to weigh him down and overshadow his life. There were in him depths of kindness and courtesy that endeared him to all who knew him. Above all he was a Man of God, who never wavered in his outlook on life and in his strong faith in all things working for good and for God.

In the passing of Dr Macfie at a ripe old age we mourn not for him but for ourselves. Our loss is his gain. We will not think of him as dead. Rather will we think of him as called to a higher sphere, with a well-earned place in that great cloud of witnesses that compass us about. "Peace, peace: he is not dead: he doth not sleep; he hath awakened from the dream of life."

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9 November 1934

THE LATE DR JOHNSTONE MACFIE

The funeral takes place at the Crematorium, Western Necropolis, Glasgow, this afternoon of Dr Johnstone Macfie of Langhouse, Inverkip, who died on Wednesday, aged 85 years.

Dr Macfie was the elder surviving son of Mr Robert Macfie, of Airds and Oban. He practised in Glasgow for a considerable number of years, and was well known as an ear and eye specialist. On the death of his father he retired in 1900, and had since resided at Langhouse, Inverkip.

Dr Macfie's great-grandfather was one of the sugar refining pioneers in Greenock, and his grandfather, who was Provost of Greenock, 1835-37, built a refinery in Bogle Street. Subsequently the Macfie family transferred their sugar-refining interests to Liverpool. During the latter part of the eighteenth century and the early part of the nineteenth members of the family gave valuable municipal and social service to Greenock. Brigadier-General A. L. Macfie, C.B. (Ret.), is a brother of Dr Macfie.