
OXLEY – Howard C., 36, of Halifax, passed away suddenly at home on Thursday, September 7, 2017.
Born in Halifax, he was a son of Anna Fiander (Les MacKinnon) and John Howard Oxley.
Howard was enrolled in the French Immersion Program from primary until his graduation from St. Pat’s High School and attended St. Mary’s University. He worked for Shoppers Drug Mart in the West End Mall for a number of years. He was well read and intelligent with a photographic memory and an encyclopedic knowledge; a voracious reader enjoying factual novels and articles as well as movies, video games and photography. Howard was big, strong but gentle, witty, kind, easygoing, loved walking the beach looking for shells and sand dollars and had a passion for butterflies.
He was predeceased by his maternal grandmother Ruth Fiander.
Cremation has taken place under the direction of Chandlers’ Funeral Home, Liverpool. A celebration of Howard’s life will be held in Chandlers’ Funeral Chapel, Liverpool on Friday, September 15, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. Reverend Judy Cross officiating. Reception to follow. Burial will be in Laurel Hill Cemetery, Port Mouton. Family flowers only, donations may be made to the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia. Online condolences may be made to www.chandlersfuneral.com
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Naomi, Jessie and Dr. Didi of Connections Halifax.
Offer Condolence for the family of Oxley; Howard Campbell

Walter and Sherri Miller (Wigglesworth)
Anna Ruth and all the family.I was sorry to read of your son(Howard’s) passing.Our condolences to you all at this difficult time.
Debbie (Hupman) Thibault
Anna & family….sincere condolences on your loss. Keeping you in thoughts & prayers!
Sarah Bunnell
Sending our condolences from all the staff at Mateus Bistro , very sorry to hear of the loss of your son . We will keep you close in our thoughts .
Tena Taylor
Please accept condolences from all the staff at Shoppers Drug Mart on Mumford Road. Howard was and important and well liked member of our team for almost 5 years. We are all feeling great sadness from his passing. He will be missed by everyone here.
Sally Fader(Wigglesworth)
Dear Anna & family:
So very sorry to read of your son’s passing.Thinking of you at this very difficult time.
Tina WIthrow
I am so sorry to hear of Howard’s passing I worked with him at Shoppers Drug Mart Howard was one of my favorite people we had a lot of laughs with him he had a wonderful sense of humor and was very kind.He was so quiet when he first came to work with us but he quickly fit in with us and was always fun to work with and talk to he was always fun at our store parties and was very funny. My heart is just broken and it just won’t be the same without him. He sure will live on in our memory. RIP Howie we love you. Tina Withrow
Annette Anthony
Anna and Family:
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Annette
Lori Collins
Anna, I am heartbroken for you. Bill and I wish you comfort and strength at this tragic time.
Selma MacKinnon
Anna and Les. Our sincerest condolences to you both. We only met Howard once but I know Anna that he was the light of your life.Hugs to you and prayers going your way. Selma and Kevin
Anne Mazerall
So sorry to hear about Howard’s passing. Please know that I will be thinking of you.
Anthony Mac Isaac
Dear Anna and Les,
Our prayers and sympathy go out to you and your family on the death of your dear son Howard.
May God bless you and be with you during this very difficult time,
Sincerely ,
Anthony and Theresa Mac Isaac; Cole Harbour, NS
Eric Llewellyn
Very sad to read of Howard’s death. I remember a bright young man at Gorsebrook Jr. High who was often the only one to catch some obscure humerous reference marked by a twinkle in his eyes and a just discernible smile. Rare gifts in a special person.
Carl & Marie Davis
So Sorry to hear of your Son’s death. Our prayers are with you at this sad time.
Catherine Rouse
Howard was my next door neighbor. He was always very pleasant with a very genuine smile. My sincere condolences to his mother Anna and his father John .As well to other members of the family.I will miss you Howard. Fondly Cathy Rouse
Kacy Petersen DeLong
My sincere condolences. I knew Howie from our days together at St. Pat’s High. We used to hang out on the Halifax Common over lunch hour in a big group of young hooligans, playing soccer and frisbee, having fun, laughing together. That’s how I’ll remember him; his quiet intelligence and ready smile were always present.
Elizabeth King
My sincere condolences on your loss.
I went to high school with Howie. We played soccer together at lunch on the Commons, though neither of us was very good it didn’t stop us from trying. We also frequently sat together in english and history class. I remember one day someone started throwing around Halloween candy and we started firing them back using a ruler to slingshot them across the room.
Other people have told me stories about Howie, how he had a wonderful voice and he could get the whole class in stitches when he did the different voices for characters while reading out loud, and the silly song he used to sing. One person mentioned that they’d just uncovered the little publication of poems from the 5 grade that included one he’d won a prize for and that it was still a very good read. There were a lot of good moments.
My strongest memory of Howie was seeing him one day in the hospital when he was having a bad day and I asked if I could give him a hug and he gave me such a squeeze. He was always such a warm presence.
Jan Pottie
My heart is broken. Howard was my neighbour in Summerville and my friend, and we loved the same things. I will miss him more than I can say. On Summerville Beach. His wonderful laugh. His warmth. Anna we are so deeply sorry for your loss. And for our loss.
C
My sincere condolences for the loss of Howard. We were fortunate to have Howard work with us for a time at Independent Living NS, where he was always hard working, kind and indeed, had a twinkle in his eye, as if he knew the punchline before the rest of us did. So smart – Such a pleasure to work with him and to have known him. He watches with wings on.
jan vanderDonk
Dear Anna and Les
Just learning of Howards passing. I treated Howard and his family as their dentist for 25 years. I would be fortunate enough to have a short snapshot into Howards life every 6 months. The things I remember about Howard were firstly his kindness. It’s not surprising he had a way with butterflies. It was consistant. His intelligence and sense of humour were obvious early but he didn’t try and show it, almost the opposite, almost suppress it.
Anna and Les I am so sorry the loss of your son Howard. I knew him for many years and I liked him a lot.
Very Sincerely
jan vanderDonk
Yvette
My heartfelt condolences Anna & Les, Howard will certainly be missed