SEARLE, John Stephen (Middle Stewiacke) – On October 24, 2014, we lost our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Steve.  Born August 14, 1947 in Truro to the late John (Jack) and Neilia (Cameron) Searle. Steve attended the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in Bible Hill from 1965 to 1967.  He went on to study at MacDonald College of McGill University in Montreal and in 1969 graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, specializing in horticulture.  For twelve years following graduation, he worked with the Department of Agriculture in greenhouse extension work.  Steve and his wife Brooke then joined forces and created their business, Searle’s Greenhouses and Landscaping in Middle Stewiacke and eventually became proprietors of Searle’s Gardens and Florals in Hilden.  Steve and Brooke retired from a fantastic forty year career in their greenhouse business in 2013.  Steve is survived by his loving wife and best friend of forty five years Brooke (Coffell) and their three wonderful sons, Andrew Stephen (Diana), Truro; Adam Mitchell (Deborah), Middle Stewiacke; and John Michael (Jenna), Brookfield.  He was a loving Grampie to five special grandchildren, Olivia Paige, Ryan Mitchell, Jeslyn Elizabeth, Myla Finley and John Garrett.  He will be forever missed by his brothers, Duncan (Leslie), Toney River; and Bill (Gail), Dartmouth; his mother in law, Betty DeLong, Amherst; and his niece, nephews and many cousins.  Steve enjoyed many special times with family and friends at his beloved cottage in Caribou River that he and Brooke built together.  In 2011, Steve was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.  Throughout the battle, his strength, courage and will to live to see his grandchildren grow up was an inspiration to everyone who knew him.  Brooke and the entire family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Wanda Hasegawa and the phenomenal nursing staff of 8A & 8B at the VG Site for extending Steve’s life for three and a half years and allowing his family to make so many more special memories with him.  Thank you to Dr. Nebojsa Sparavelo and Dr. Jenny Hadzimurtezic for all of their hope and encouragement, Gertrude Kells, the Medical Day Unit Staff at the VG Site, Dr. Donald Rowe, Dr. Trevor Locke, Dr. Courtney Smith and the staff of the ICU, Palliative Care and Medical Day Units at the Colchester East Hants Health Centre for all of their care and support.  Special thanks to his brother, Duncan, who was Steve’s first bone marrow donor, to his brother Bill, for all of those morning sunrise coffees he and Steve shared and to the unknown second bone marrow donor who gave Steve another year of life with us. Thank you to Neil Cameron, Steve’s best man and Bill and Kim Knol for all of their love and support.  The family would like to encourage those thirty five years and younger to consider being a bone marrow donor by going to onematch.ca and for anyone who is able to be a blood donor to please give blood as often as possible. A  Memorial Service will take place at the  Mattatall~Varner Funeral Home, 55 Young Street, Truro on Saturday November 1, 2014 at 11:00am, with a  reception to follow. Interment will take place at a later time. Family flowers only.  If so desired, donations can be made in Steve’s memory to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, The Lodge that Gives, the Palliative Care Unit at the Colchester East Hants Health Centre or a charity of choice. Private messages of condolence can be sent to the family by viewing John’s obituary and selecting "Send A Condolence" at: www.mattatallvarnerfh.com