|
A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project
In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
GILSON, Garfield, J.C.P. - CD, P.Eng - 35, Halifax, passed away Saturday, July 23, 2005, as the result of a sudden illness. Born in Fort Frances, Ont., he was the loving son of Struchan and Patricia (Steer) Gilson. He was a proud member of the Canadian Armed Forces (Navy), serving as engineering officer for the Fleet Diving Unit Atlantic. He attended the College Militaire Royal in St. Jean, Que. , as well as the Royal Canadian Military College in Kingston, Ont., where he obtained a degree in mechanical engineering. During his service with the Navy, Garfield served in a number of engineering positions throughout the fleet, including a recent deployment to the Middle East with HMCS Toronto. He was very proud of his career and was well respected by his peers. Garfield was also a member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Nova Scotia. Garfield was a man of honour and integrity. He was a loving and supportive husband and father, whose greatest joy was his family, especially his six-week-old son Benjamin. Garfield spent many hours working to create a lovely and comfortable home for his family, whose love for him goes beyond what words can say. Garfield was an avid cyclist and was a member of the Bicycles Plus cycling team. He loved cycling with a passion and could often be found riding along the roads or in the woods. He also loved to be active outdoors, where he could frequently be found with his dog Maggie. He was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, Garfield and Laura Steer (Midland, Ont.), his paternal grandparents, Eric and Elizabeth Gilson (Worchester, UK), his step-grandfather, Jack Travers (Worchester, UK), and his uncle, Piers Gilson (North Bay, Ont.). In addition to his parents, Garfield leaves to mourn his loving wife, the former Jane MacNeil and son, Benjamin, both of Halifax; brother, Eric (Jennifer), and sister, Rylee (Rich) Raymond, all of Edmonton, Alta.; nieces, Melissa and MacKenzie Raymond, both of Edmonton, Elizabeth MacNeil, Dallas, Tex.; nephews, Andrew and Iain Gilson and Kaelan Raymond, all of Edmonton, Brett and Evan MacNeil, Halifax, Ryan MacNeil, Dallas, Tex.; parents-in-law, Michael and Louise MacNeil, Sydney; brothers-in-law, Glenn (Alison) MacNeil, Halifax, Gerard MacNeil, Sydney, and Bruce (Tam) MacNeil, Dallas, Tex. In accordance with Garfield's wishes, there will be no visitation. Funeral services for Garfield will be held Friday, July 29, at 11 a.m. in the 12 Wing Shearwater Chapel, Shearwater. A private burial will take place at sea at a later date. Family flowers only. Donations in Garfield's memory may be made to the Children's Wish Foundation or the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Atlantic Funeral Home, Bayer's Road, Halifax.
Ships served in:
|
For Posterity's Sake 
