My Grandpa Scott written by Brian Tice

< Cremation of Sam McGee >

There are many things that I didn’t know about my grandpa, but let me tell you about what I do know.

He loved reading & poetry and would read to grandma and his kids. This was his favourite poem.< Cremation of Sam McGee >

Shakespeare once said that “Tears water our growth”, so please bear with me if I start to grow any bigger up here.

There has never been any “quit” in my Grandpa, he’s strong-willed and battled all his life. Finally he lost the battle with cancer and while it may have taken his life from us, his spirit will be with us all for as long as we remember him.

Sadly, he was part of a generation which is slowly being forgotten, one that lived their lives full of integrity and respect. He was an honest man, you always knew where he stood because he said what he meant and meant what he said.

[FAMILY]

He was a man’s man who put family first next to God, who lived life with an uncommon passion, and believed that our journey of life was an endless lesson of growth. Bert was never one to tell you what to do with your life as he understood that to learn the lessons of life one must make their own decisions and even sometimes their own mistakes.

He was always full of love and concern for his family, regardless of their life choices. Not to say that he didn’t have advice to give, but mostly you would have to ask for it. He was always generous with the knowledge he had to give when you needed it and took great pride in his family’s accomplishments, be it large or small.

He may have been a “working man” but was a gentleman at heart who believed that a man’s word was worth something and respect for a man’s name must be earned. He was chivalrous, and demanded that ladies be treated as such. Bert believed that people deserved to be treated with respect even when you had a difference of opinions.

[COMMUNITY]

Bert was always active in the community, as if an extension of his family he wanted to make sure that he was making a contribution. He figured if you weren’t doing anything to try to help make a difference that you shouldn’t have the right to complain.

Within this community he was a Fire Chief, Ambulance Driver, School board trustee.

[PROUDLY CANADIAN]

He was extremely passionate about being Canadian, even though his family history only 1 generation before would prove to be Irish, he was not Irish-Canadian. If you asked him he was Canadian through and through. He proudly served his country in WWII, and was an active member of the Canadian Legion. If you ever had a two minute conversation with him about politics you would know 3 things. That he was very intelligent, well spoken and very passionate about his country.

[ENDING]

Please stand with me in a moment of silence and think of all the good and joyful times you had with Bert.

[PAUSE]

Before you sit down please pick a memory that somehow endeared him to you; that of all the recollections you have of him this one sticks out in your mind as somehow being special. Once you have a memory of him in mind, please re-take your seat.

[PAUSE]

I’d like for everyone to honour him by telling someone at the reception of that memory, someone who wouldn’t have known about it, to share your experience of this beloved man.

Whether you knew Bert Scott as family, friend, or an acquaintance, we all felt his impact in our lives because of the quality of his character. Those of you who got to spend a lot of time getting to know with him were blessed with a gift. He is sorely missed, deeply loved, and this world is less without him. All of us will grieve his passing in a different way, but he didn’t want to be mourned. He wanted for us to celebrate his life, his identity.