John Lawrence CLIFFORD, age
88 of Fredericton, New Brunswick passed away peacefully May
14, 2019, at Pine Grove Nursing Home,
Fredericton, N.B with his family at his side. Born in
Dolbeau, PQ. John was a retired Staff Sergeant, Royal
Canadian Mounted Police and was a member of St. Andrew’s
Presbyterian Church.
Predeceased by his parents,
James Clifford (Sterlingshire, Scotland) and Mary Irvine Stewart
(Bathgate, Scotland), his wife Carol (nee Flynn) Clifford, his second
wife Leitha (nee Turnbull) Dean and his sister Christina and her
husband Robert
Johnston.
He is survived by his son,
James Clifford (Sharon) of St. John’s, NL and grandchildren
Carol « Carly », Brian and Claire: his daughter Nancy
Clifford-Arseneault (Maurice) and granddaughter, Laura, of
Fredericton. John is also survived by Leitha’s
children, John Dean (Susan), Cyndy (Sher), Peter (Karon) and Janet
Trail (Jeff).
John was a Life Member of
the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Veteran’s Association, New
Brunswick Division. He also was a 1967 PAN-AMERICAN GAMES
Silver Medalist (Centre Fire Pistol Shooting), 1967 Canada Winter
Games Participant (Pistol Shooting), Official at the 1976 Olympiad
(Pistol Shooting) former Ontario Provincial Record Holder Centre Fire
Pistol Shooting and was recognized multiple times by the RCMP
Commissioner for obtaining possible scores at the Annual Revolver
Competition. John was an instrumental founder/builder of New
Brunswick Handgun Association in the early 1970’s and
represented N.B. on provincial handgun team numerous
times.
After spending his formative
years in his birthplace in the Lac-Saint-Jean area of Quebec, John
moved to Toronto where he was engaged as a Regular Member of the RCMP
in 1952. He served in Quebec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Alberta
and New Brunswick, retiring at the rank of Staff Sergeant in 1977 as
the « J » Division Traffic Supervisor. John became
the Director of Inspections and Investigations at the Liquor Licencing
Board, NB Department of Justice in Fredericton and held that position
for 15 years before retiring to
Fredericton.
Some of John’s
fondest times were spent at the Washademoak Lake with his family,
friends and long-time neighbours at the cottage he built with pride
from the ground up to it’s 20’
peak.
As a loving father and
grandfather, he took great pleasure in having Laura, Carly, Claire and
Brian enjoy life at his cottage. John was a devout family
man and took his family many places travelling and camping from coast
to coast and to the USA. He coached schoolboy hockey in the
70’s, was an avid outdoorsman, making lots of « fish
‘n game » excursions with his good buddy Don
Bilensky. John was a bit of an amateur arborist and known to
be always interested in preserving trees and balancing growth and
cultivation when harvesting his woodlot. He had many
lifelong friends within the RCMP circle and his
community.
John was held in high esteem
by his peers, supervisors and subordinates in the RCMP. He
was proud to be a member of the « J » Division
Veteran’s Association and was always grateful for the
camaraderie. In 2018 John was honored to be presented with
his Generational Services Insignia by the « J » Division
Sergeant Major marking two generations of RCMP members in his
family.
John and Carol travelled
whenever they had the opportunity, including destinations such as
Barbados, Mexico, cruises and RV trips to Florida until
Carol’s untimely passing in 1998. John’s
travel interests resumed when he and Leitha met and became
married. They cruised Alaska, travelled to Scotland, the
Rocky Mountains, Newfoundland, multiple trips to Florida and made a
return trip with Nancy and Jimmy to his childhood communities in the
Lac St. Jean, PQ region. John always looked forward to
seeing Ryan, Michael and Sophie at Leitha’s cottage at Grand
Lake.
A very sincere message of
gratitude goes to the very special home care workers including Nancy
R, Rachel, Joanne, Lucie and many others while he was in his home and
also to the administration and staff at Pine Grove Nursing Home for
their loving care.
Resting at
Bishop’s Funeral Home on the Woodstock Road, visitation will
take place from 5pm to 8pm on Friday, May 17th.
A funeral service will be held at St Andrew’s Presbyterian
Church, Charlotte Street on Saturday, May 18th.
at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to
the Pine Grove Foundation.
www.pinegrovefoundation.ca/donations., The Alzheimer’s Society of New Brunswick
or the IWK.
www.bishopsfuneralhome.com
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de John Lawrence Clifford 19302019..
Décès pour la Ville: Fredericton, Province: Nouveau-Brunswick