Laming, Carl D. (CPO, Ret’d) – Our father passed away comfortably in his 86th year of life on June 7, 2018. Carl was born in St. Stephen, N.B. in 1932. He was a son of the late Albert “Yub” and Doris (Berry) Laming.
Shortly after birth, Carl moved into Uncle Ray and Aunt Cora Laming's loving Milltown home where he was raised. Upon his birth, Ray and Cora's daughter, Frances, instantly became his big 14-year-old caring sister and remained so until his passing. Carl loved Milltown and graduated high school there in 1949.
As with many in those days in this New Brunswick-Maine border town, a few days after leaving school, he got a job in the cotton mill, as did generations of our family. While working at the mill, dad met our mum, Gloria Bryan. She had just recently moved to New Brunswick from Stellarton for employment. They got married in Milltown shortly after and had a beautiful 56 years together.
For some reason that we will remain forever grateful, dad decided to join the Navy (RCN) in 1951 and shipped off to Cornwallis for naval recruit training. He was an Observers Mate in the RCN's Naval Air branch based mainly at HMCS Shearwater (CFB-12Wing Shearwater) and east coast ships. As a lower decker from the rank of Ordinary Seaman to Chief Petty Officer 1st Class, he flew in aircraft from the flight deck of aircraft carriers HMCS Magnificent and HMCS Bonaventure for years on multiple deployments. Carl and Gloria raised their family in Shearwater and Westphal up until civilian government politicians in Ottawa decided that sailors would wear green uniforms and that the navy should not have an aircraft carrier. Dad did hesitantly commission from the ranks into the Officer Corp (CFR'd) and morphed into becoming a CF Captain. He did however always clearly identify himself as a CFR'd CPO1 type.
After the Shearwater Naval era, Carl and Gloria got posted to CFB Summerside and lived in beautiful Slemon Park PMQs for three years. From the Island, we got posted back to the mainland, arriving at Camp Debert. While working at Debert, Mum and Dad bought a home in Stewiacke. After a three-year hitch at Camp Debert, Carl and family headed back to Prince Edward Island for a three-year posting at the Charlottetown CF Recruiting Centre. They rented the Stewiacke home during this second posting to the Island and returned to Stewiacke upon Dad's final posting to Shearwater in 1980. After 30 years in the RCN-CF, dad retired from the military, finding a great job inside the Radio Control Room-Operations Dept. at the Wildlife Park in Shubenacadie. Dad truly enjoyed his job at the Shubie Park.
An extremely important part of the Laming family's life was Carl and Gloria's many years spent on the Amherst shore in their Brownell Lane cottage overlooking the Northumberland Strait. They held onto this special piece of heaven during many of the military postings. After fully retiring, Carl and Gloria sold the cottage and the Stewiacke house and moved to nearby Shortts Lake. They spent many happy years dividing their time between Shortts Lake and a little spot in Fort Myers, Fla. After watching many sunsets on Shortts Lake, our parents moved into Truro for their final years.
Upon Mum's passing in 2007, Dad remained living independently in their Truro home until his last week. He managed to stay home in Wynn Park due to the help of wonderful loving Wynn Park neighbours, his Truro family doctor, Dr. Robert Graham, and support from us.
In addition to being a stellar father in all respects, Carl was a remarkable big-time "hands on" grandfather. He was a proud Papa to Stewiacke-raised grandsons, Jordan and Gregory Wright. In addition to attending every soccer and hockey game of both grandsons, Papa Laming bought Gregory and Jordan's first bikes, skates, hockey sticks, goalie nets, bats, balls and gear. Asquith Avenue in Stewiacke had many road hockey, baseball and soccer games with kit Papa gladly got for the Wright boys who he dearly cherished. Carl is survived by his daughter, Nadine and her husband Chris Wright, Stewiacke; his son, Brian and his wife Cindy, Truro; grandsons, Jordan Wright, Calgary; Gregory Wright, Truro. Also left behind are Carl's younger sister, Darlene Rowland, Barrie, Ont.; his first cousin and acquired older sister, Frances Getchell, St. Stephen, N.B. He was predeceased by his wife, Gloria; his Uncle Raynor and Aunt Cora Laming (Tyler); his mother-in-law, Beatrice Christine Bryan.
Cremation has taken place. As per Carl's wishes, there will be no visitation or service. His ashes will be placed beside our mother in Pine Grove Cemetery, Stewiacke East, at a private family ceremony this summer. In addition, a portion of his ashes will be placed alongside his Uncle Ray in the family plot in Milltown, N.B.
Arrangements are under the direction of Arimathea Funeral Cooperative, Upper Musquodoboit.
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