Born and raised in Alberta, Gary was the only son of Carl and Marie Darling. Making his move to British Columbia in 1972, Gary met his wife to be, Kim, in August of 1980, whom he went on to marry on July 4th of 1981, forming an inseparable bond and a lifetime of love and friendship. Gary was also fortunate enough to welcome three sons to his life, Michael, Mitchell, and David, who he loved dearly.
Gary had many passions throughout his life; he loved baseball, fishing, and was an avid golfer. Gary was constantly striving to improve his golf game, and recently retired, Gary spent a lot of his new found time working towards the perfect golf game. If he found daily trips to the driving range weren’t helping, Gary found refuge in the pro-shop, where he constantly sought out the elusive perfect club that would turn it all around. Gary loved good food and good company; he was equipped with an infectious laugh that could be heard for miles, and a smile that could light up any room. Family and friends were at the core of Gary’s life.
Gary was a proud and energetic force in the Fire Protection Industry. He learned the job from the ground up. This made him unique as a manufacturer’s representative, he had actually gotten dirt under his nails installing and testing the products he sold. After having built a successful fire safety company of his own, Gary went on to make his mark within several fire safety organizations in the Lower Mainland. Gary was well respected in the industry and gave back to the fire protection community by sharing his knowledge with fire authorities and teaching others in the industry. Gary was honored during Fire Prevention Week 2015 by the Township of Langley Fire Department as a Safety Star, recognizing people and organizations for their dedication and commitment to the Fire Department and Fire Safety. He was passionate about his industry and took a lot of pride in his work and colleagues.
He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Kim Darling; his sons Michael Darling (Susan), Mitchell Darling (Stacey), and David Darling (Carley); and his grandchildren Devon, Emma, and Hazel. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Ann Hunter; sister-in-law’s Carol-Ann Hunter and Valerie Hunter; his cousin Diane McMullin; and many close friends.
Please join us; a Celebration of Life will be held in Gary’s name at Eagle Quest Coyote Creek Golf Course (7778 152 Street, Surrey, BC) in the Grandview Ballroom at 1:00PM on Saturday, October 1st.
Arrangements under the direction of Victory Memorial Park Funeral Centre, Surrey, BC.
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