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“He leaves a great big hole in our lives but not in our hearts. A truly beautiful man,” his son Matt said. McPhail s wife Anne had said goodnight to him before going home from the resthome. He died soon after, Matt said. “She said her farewell, and we feel like he was happy. He knew everyone was there and he was ready,” he said. Although his health had taken a bad turn, Matt said his father remained in good spirits. “He was sharp as a tack, one of the most intelligent men I have met and one of the funniest as well. He had that right till the end.”