Obituary of Ross McLaughlin

Ross W. McLaughlin, son of the late Clifford and Dorothy McLaughlin, passed peacefully at home on Monday, July 23, 2012. Ross, born on July 6, 1925, was a life long resident of Barker's Point. He lived every minute of his life to the fullest and enjoyed most being in the company of his family and friends. Ross was employed as a Storeman at Base Gagetown for 30 years, before retiring in 1983. He was a WWII veteran, having enlisted in the artillery as a volunteer at age 17. He was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces which liberated Holland in 1944. Ross never stopped learning, and loved getting new gadgets. An avid photographer for many years, at the ripe age of 72 he bought his first computer so that he could learn digital photography. He loved traveling to British Columbia and Vermont, where he photographed the beauty that he found there with great joy. One of his favorite pastimes was working in his flower gardens. He would always joke that this would "be the last year", but every year they got bigger and better. He spent countless hours planting and arranging them, to the great admiration of his neighbors. Ross enjoyed hunting and fishing, and spent many seasons entertaining company at the hunting camp he built with his father in 1946. Ross will be remembered by his many friends for his varied interests. He was well known in the 1950s as a softball pitcher for several local teams. He was a true baseball and hockey fan spending many hours watching his beloved Toronto Blue Jays and Maple Leafs. He was a successful card player and enjoyed weekly games with his friends in his "man cave". Ross is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Margaret (Westall); his daughter, Nancy; his son, David (Ellie); his brother, Darrell (Jackie); his sister, June (Carl); his granddaughter, Melanie (Darrell); his great-great grandsons, Jaydon and Benjamin. He was predeceased by his grandson, Marshall L. Kitt. Relatives and friends are invited to the funeral service, to be held at York Funeral Home’s T. Gordon MacLeod Memorial Chapel on Friday, July 27, 2012 at 2 pm. If desired, donations could be made the Fredericton SPCA. Personal condolences may be offered through www.yorkfh.com