Alex Arthur died in Whitehorse General Hospital Wednesday morning. Forty-five years of age, Alex had been prominent in business and community life in the Yukon since his arrival here in 1945.
He spent his first years in the territory at Mayo where he managed the Silver Inn. Later he owned Mayo and Keno Menswear and, from there came to Whitehorse as owner of Porky's Menswear. He sold Porky's in February 1957 to Hougen's Ltd.
After leaving the menswear business, Alex took over Hillcrest Supermarket, the airbase grocery store. He was operating it at the time of his death.
Mr. Arthur was a member of long standing in the city Kiwanis club and had been chosen as one of the delegates to go to the district convention in Spokane, Washington this month. He was also a member of the Whitehorse Branch Lodge Number 46 of the Ancient, Free and accepted order of Masons.
An outspoken man, with no time for pretense or artificiality, Alex had worked hard all of his life. Born in Peterhead, Scotland, he came to Canada with his parents in 1928. They settled in Chilliwack and, from there, Alex went to New Westminster to become a longshoreman.
He served in the army and, later, took over a grocery store in Steveston, near Vancouver. He left the Coast to come North. In the Yukon Mr. Arthur was actively interested in politics. He had been a territorial council candidate and also a candidate for the Liberal nomination during the last federat election.
Mr. Arthur is survive by his wife, Peggy; his son, Henry; his daughter, Margaret and by his father, who resides in Chilliwack.
Funeral arrangements have not been completed yet.
The Whitehorse Star - Thursday, August 24, 1961
Masonic Rites For Alex Arthur
First Presbyterian church was filled last Friday as local residents gathered to pay their last respects to the late Alex Arthur. The Rev. Harry Waite conducted the Masonic funeral and interment followed in the Masonic plot of Whitehorse cemetery.
Pall bearers were Lloyd Ryder, Bill Drury, Jim Vallely, Bob Cousins, Jr., Rolph Bailey and Al Clarke.
The Whitehorse Star - Thursday, August 31, 1961
Alex Arthur can be paid one of the most simple and yet one of the rarest tributes that any person can earn... Alex was an honest man. He was an honest man and a good man. If there were more people in the world like him, there would be far less need for courtroom battles, lost friendships, disappointments and heartbreaks. He was outspoken
and forthright. Everyone knew where they stood with Alex and everyone knew where Alex stood. Alex had the ability to examine the world and himself with honesty and without self-pity. This is the legacy he left his friends. Let us hope some of us will be strong enough to accept it.
The Whitehorse Star - Monday, October 23, 1961
T&D have taken over Hillcrest store, the RCAF shopping centre whose manager Alex Arthur died here recently.
