Gavin Scott Smith

Many people will know Gavin from Transcona,("God's Country") where he lived the earlier and latter parts of his life. Gavin attended Wayoata School in Transcona before the family moved to the West End and there he made many friends at General Wolfe, Daniel McIntyre and Tec Voc schools. After completing his welding course at Red River College, Gavin then took the first steps on his life-long career at CN. In time, Gavin settled in Transcona with Suzanne his devoted wife of 22 years and their four-legged children Raja, Roxy and Jing.

Gavin’s legacy is one of music, laughter, loyalty and a massive collection of Montreal Canadiens paraphernalia. A true sports fan, one of Gavin’s favourite moments was when he stood up in the crowd at a Mets game in NYC to show off his Blue Bomber jersey. He loved the attention and the opportunity to tell everyone around him about his Bombers. Back in the day, Gavin also enjoyed playing hockey, sponge hockey and games of pool.

Music and Gavin were synonymous. Gavin played acoustic and electric guitar and of course, the small set of bongo drums which were in the house growing up. Gavin loved all sorts of music, from old time big band to heavy metal. His appreciation for music inspired the same in many of us. He also enjoyed a dance, whether jiving with his mother, Anna, in the front room of the house on Lipton Street or groovin’ to reggae beat in the Caribbean with Susie and their friends.

The sound of Gavin’s laugh will remain with us, always. He was so funny. A natural story teller, Gavin had the knack of imitating every accent he heard. One of his traditions was to wear his kilt and speak with a Scots accent for the entire day on his birthday. Sometimes, if telling a story wasn’t quite the right thing to do, he’d just break out into song. Perhaps if someone were to break out in song now to honour Gavin, he’d appreciate this one by The Beatles (his all-time favourite band): Though I know I'll never lose affection / For people and things that went before /I know I'll often stop and think about them /In my life I love you more.

Along with being playful, Gavin was a determined gentleman who was deeply compassionate and loyal to his family. The support he gave his younger twin brother Guy was the epitome of brotherly love. His empathy for Guy was boundless. Gavin’s relationships with his mother, sister Geri and his brother Bill meant so much to him, as did being the ‘big brother’ to his nieces and nephews.

The love of Gavin’s life was Susie and together they recently celebrated their 22nd anniversary. His card to her read, When things are hanging all around us and the world seems to move too fast, don’t forget I’ll be right beside you, loving you. So when you look ahead to the future or look back at how things used to be, don’t forget to look beside you, because that’s where you’ll find me, loving you with all my heart.

The physical embodiment which was Gavin is now gone. However, his spirit will continue to walk alongside those who love Gavin with all their hearts, his wife Susie, mother Anna, sister Geri, brother Bill (Brenda), brother-in-law Gerry (Donna) niece Angela (Michael), nephews Philip (Rita), Dennis (Jelena), Adam(Colleen) and Raymond (Mel) and great-nephews Julian and Oliver.

Gavin was pre-deceased by his twin brother Guy, his father Arthur, brother-in-law Donald Fortescue and parents-in-law Raymond and Yvette Doiron

Susie and the family extend gratitude to the compassionate staff of CancerCare Manitoba. A service to celebrate Gavin’s legacy will be held on Saturday, July 12 at 10.00 AM at Green Acres Funeral Home and Cemetery, #1 Highway East at Navin Road, Winnipeg. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Cancer care Manitoba or the Winnipeg Humane Society.