For Posterity's Sake         

A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project

In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar

SPEARIN, Christopher John (Chris) - to the many who knew and loved him - was a "good soldier" in the full and varied sense of the term. He was born April 25, 1972, in Windsor, Ont., to Judy (Newbold) and George Spearin. He died all too soon at age 47 on September 13, 2019, felled by a relentless cancer. Foremost among those he leaves behind are his mother; his loving wife, Kelley; and children, Abigail, Matthew and Audrey. Also brother Kyle, though not, alas, brother Kevin who predeceased him, as did his father. He set on a military career from the earliest, first in cadets and then in reserves. He worked his way up through the Windsor detachment of the CFRC reserve corps to officer candidate school to Royal Military College, from where he graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Engineering degree and later, from Canadian Forces College with a Masters in Defence Studies. His active service career spanned 27 years and four months. In that time he was an airborne Combat Systems Officer with the Royal Canadian Air force, flying in Sea King Heli-copters and deployed with Royal Canadian Ships and other units domestically and abroad. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the course of a career that included numerous command distinctions, including service as Exchange Officer with the Royal Navy in Cornwall, U.K., a role in which his sterling professionalism and dedication made him an outstanding ambassador for Canada and the RCAF. On a lighter side, he was an avid bagpiper who enthusiastically played with the 12 Wing Pipes and Drums. Beyond his outstanding professional qualities, those he unstintingly displayed in private life made his deeply cherished by family and friends, humble, caring, gentle, understanding and respectful of women are aspects commonly cited by those who knew him, along with an endearingly quirky sense of humour; to the end he even managed to crack wise about his cruel affliction. And above all of his family and especially of his children. And hopefully their children, will be imbued with a knowledge and guiding appreciation of the qualities that made him an all-around good soldier. These further include parents-in-law, Robyn McNicoll (Hubert Bauch) and Ronald Gratton (Patricia Pipon); sisters-in-law, Paulette and Danielle; nephews, Ryan, Aaron and Jack; and niece, Molly. Also brother-in-law, Tyler (Hillary Duncan and daughter Eleonore). Beyond that, many aunts, uncles, cousins and other in-laws. Through them his wonderful spirit will live on as they recall him for the caring, loving and accomplished man he was in all aspects of his life. Memorial service was Thursday, September 10th at Shearwater followed by reception in the Sea King Club.