Lawrence Stewart Holmes

3 FEBRUARY 1925 - 28 MARCH 2013

Lawrence Holmes was born in Vancouver at Grace Hospital to his parents Hugh Jackson Holmes and Margaret Stewart Holmes [nee Henderson]. Hugh was from Princeton, B.C., where he and his wife lived, while Margaret was originally from Kilmory, Island of Arran, in Scotland. Soon Lawrie was living in the family home in the area between Coalmont and Granite Creek, near Princeton. He had a childhood living in a rural area with lots of forest, fishing and the games of childhood. Lawrie soon was joined by younger brother Hugh [in 1926], and sister Mildred [in 1929] for a thriving family.

Sadly the idyllic childhood was shattered in 1935 when Margaret died of a brain aneurysm leaving Hugh with three young children, running his own business in the height of the great depression. All three of the children were devastated by the loss of their beloved mother. Hugh soon hired a variety of young women to care for his children while he continued to run his business. Most of these young women did not last long, and clashed with the children, until a young Anne Hawkins was hired, - she and the kids clicked. Seeing the success Anne had with his children Hugh offered to make the arrangement permanent, and Hugh married Anne in 1937. The kids were thrilled to have a stepmother who they helped choose, and Anne became the beloved stepmother. In 1938 the family welcomed a new baby sister Anne.

In late 1940, the mines closed in the Granite Creek area so Hugh and family all moved to Vancouver, not only the big city, but a nation at war. Lawrie although underage, joined as a “boy soldier” the Irish Fusiliers of Canada {Vancouver Regiment}. When Lawrie turned 18 years of age, he joined the regular force, becoming a Driver-Mechanic in the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps, driving tanks. He served with many regiments, transferring often, hoping to get into action. Most notably he served with the Royal Montreal Regiment. He was sent overseas and stationed in Scotland where, when he had leave, he traveled to the Island of Arran and met his Scottish grandparents for the first time. Lawrie also felt he met every member of the entire Henderson Clan on the island. He also heard again the Gaelic language, which his mother had spoken to him as a young boy, but sadly a language now forgotten. The warmth of the family welcome, and the memory of a departed mother created a deep love of all things Scottish.

On the 6th of June 1944, Lawrie drove a Sherman tank ashore onto the beaches of Normandy, only to promptly drive over a land mine, which blew a tread off the tank. He was soon evacuated off the beach and back to England, as on the crossing of the channel he had contracted dysentery in the cramped quarters of the troopship prior to landing in France. After recuperating in England, he rejoined the regiment and this time found lots of “action”. He was wounded twice by shrapnel, that we know of - Lawrie rarely told of his battlefield experiences. The few times that Lawrie did describe his battlefield experiences, you would instantly realize why he did not want to speak of it. He fought his way across northern France, through Belgium, into Holland, and had just entered Germany when the war in Europe was over. Lawrie volunteered to serve in the Pacific theatre in the war against Japan, so was promptly moved back to Canada in preparation for that war. While still in Canada, Japan surrendered and the war was entirely over. Lawrie had survived, promptly was demobilized, and in Vancouver at the family home, soon joined by his brother Hugh who had served in the Merchant Navy. Both sons had returned home safely, to the joy of the family.

In the spring of 1946 his brother Hugh had a girlfriend, then fiancé, Evelyn who one evening introduced Lawrie to a young co-worker, Betty Larson. Hugh and Evelyn married in July 1946, and Betty and Lawrie married on 5 October 1946. Betty had to get her father’s permission to marry as she was just 17 years old. To make a profound understatement, Lawrie loved Betty, they were lovebirds - only happy when together. In 1948 Betty and Lawrie welcomed their first child Lynda. In 1949 Lawrie rejoined the peacetime army, this time joining the artillery, with the army becoming his true calling. With extensive wartime experience Lawrie was soon a bombardier and then onto being a Sergeant. After being based with the School of Artillery in Shilo, Manitoba, Lawrie was assigned to his regiment, 4th Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery. In 1953 a new child, this time a son, Stewart, was born while Betty and Lawrie were stationed in Calgary, Alberta. In 1955 the army posted Lawrie to Germany to serve with the Canadian brigade group that was part of our contribution to NATO.

While in Germany the family got to spend time traveling in Germany seeing old castles and the sight of a country rebuilding from the bombed out rubble of World War II. In 1957 it was time to return to Canada and they were then stationed in Camp Petawawa, Ontario. In 1958 the family welcomed another son Michael. The 1950s through the 1980s were a period of happiness for Betty and Lawrie in raising a family and just living for the enjoyment of living.

In 1968 Lynda married her high school sweetheart named Douglas Merryman in Oakville, Ontario. In late 1970 Lawrie applied for release from the army, retiring after 25 years service in the army. Lawrie would always miss the army, and would view it in hindsight as the best job he ever had. At the very end of 1970 Betty, Lawrie, Stewart and Michael were in Vancouver. Soon Lawrie was working for the federal public service, mostly with the National Parole Board as a records manager. While all this was happening Lynda and Doug began providing grandchildren, 3 granddaughters Catherine, Jennifer and Kimberley, then two grandsons, John and Drew.

In 1976 Stewart married his high school sweetheart, Penny Sanderson. In the early 1980s they began providing 3 grandsons Geoffrey, Stephen and David. By the late 1980s both Lawrie and Betty had retired from working to enjoy the good life.

In 1996 after a valiant battle against cancer Doug died leaving Lynda a grieving widow. The loss of their son-in-law, so hurting their daughter, was deeply disturbing to Betty and Lawrie.

In 1994, Betty was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. In 2006 the disease became too much even for Lawrie, and he could no longer care for Betty on his own. Betty was moved into a long term care facility in the Weatherby Pavillion at Peace Arch Hospital. Lawrie would visit her several times a day, which compelled them to sell their house, and Lawrie moved into Whitecliff an independent living facility for seniors across the street from the hospital, so he could spend more time with his wife. Hospital staff were constantly amazed at his devotion to Betty, Lawrie being there for most visiting hours. Nightly, well after visiting hours were done, Lawrie would sneak into the hospital to kiss his beloved wife goodnight – while the hospital staff learned to look the other way at his sneaking in so late. In October 2006 Betty and Lawrie celebrated 60 years of marriage surrounded by a large gathering of family and friends.

In March 2008 Betty lost her battle with Parkinson’s disease. Lawrie was heartbroken, but stoically marched on. Betty and Lawrie had a loving marriage for over 61years. Lawrie enjoyed the small things in his life and especially seeing grandchildren and the now numerous great-grandchildren. Sadly later that same year, Lawrie was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. He continued to live somewhat independently, but slowly requiring more assistance.

In May 2010 Lynda remarried Dave Clark, in a marriage that pleased not only them, but Lawrie as well. Betty and Lawrie had always liked to see their children happy.

By summer 2010 Lawrie could no longer safely live alone, and moved to the George Derby Centre, a veterans facility. Here he fell in with the “old boys” and truly enjoyed being fussed over by a gaggle of young women who were his nurses and care aides. With his warm and friendly nature, he quickly became one of the staff favourites, and then the women fussed over him even more, much to his amusement. The staff took incredible care of Lawrie, as he slowed down from arthritic knees and the effects of alzheimers. In January 2013 he sustained a serious stroke which left him in either a bed, or a wheelchair, and only able to communicate briefly and in the simplest terms. On his final day, he had almost certainly suffered another serious stroke, which took him from us. The staff at George Derby gave us our wish of the final hours free of pain and suffering, so that Lawrie’s end was peaceful. At the end he was surrounded by a son, two granddaughters and one great-granddaughter – three generations of his family.

At the time of passing, besides three children and the eight grandchildren listed above, Lawrie also had eight great-grandchildren:

Niko

Elle

Yanni

Lily

Sophie

Jack

Josie

Annabel

more to follow...

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the George Derby Centre, 7550 Cumberland Street, Burnaby, BC V3N 3X5

Phone: 604.521.2676; www.georgederbycentre.ca