ForeverMissed
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Larry Dale Pearce
April 01 1934 – January 02 2021

Larry died peacefully, holding his wife’s hand at the North Shore Hospice. Cherished husband of Laurie, Larry will be missed by his son Scott (Heather), granddaughter Allie, brother-in-law Marc (Judith) and daughter-in-law Cathy. He was predeceased by his parents Martha and Arthur Pearce, his son Kelly and his brother Art (Merle).

Born in Saskatoon, SK he moved to Victoria, BC when he was ten and upon graduation from Vic High he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and was stationed at Comox – he enjoyed recounting his many stories of being the navigator on board the Lancaster airplanes. He married Grace and had two sons, moving across Canada to various postings with the Canadian Army and he was the military attaché at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC during the Watergate era – a highlight of his career. He returned to Canada and was the Commandant at the Nanaimo Military Camp and retired with the rank of Major. He then embarked on his second career in emergency management with Emergency Preparedness Canada, marrying Laurie along the way, and culminating as Regional Director for BC and the Yukon.

He then devoted himself to volunteer work, as the Ex. Director of Pan-Pacific Hazards ’96, President of the Emergency Social Services Association, Director of the Emergency Preparedness of Commerce and Industry Council of BC and the Sunshine Falls Road Society. He served as Executive Director for the Canadian Risk and Hazards Network for many years and was proud to have had a student award named for him. Larry was always willing to help others and he mentored and guided many in government and in the emergency management field. He was a Friend of JIBC and has been the recipient of numerous lifetime achievement awards.

He will be remembered as a welcoming host, making friends wherever he went; for his sense of humour, his love of golf and travel, and for his generosity. He will be deeply missed by his many friends, cousins, nephew and nieces and other family. “No Celebration of Life,” for me Larry said, “I want an Irish Wake!” Once it is safe to do so, that will happen and notices will be sent. Larry would be pleased if you wish to make a donation in his memory to support the Larry Pearce Education Award for emergency management students at www.crhnet.ca 
January 2, 2023
January 2, 2023
You are in our hearts always Larry, but especially in the holidays where we celebrated so many happy times. Armand watches Bonanza but can’t find Wagon Trail anymore- bet you are laughing down at us.
January 2, 2023
January 2, 2023
Thinking of your amazing family and friends today. I'm sure you were impressed with the wake, honouring you in a wonderful way! Big Hugs to All. Wishing you the peace of being surrounded by Mr. Pearce's love. 
April 2, 2022
April 2, 2022
Another April 1st has gone by - we had a toast to you and once again recognized how much you are missed.
Love always
Laurie

January 4, 2022
January 4, 2022
January 2nd has come and gone, but your presence is still very much here with all of us and you are sorely missed. I am sorry that COVID has prevented me from hosting your Irish Wake, but as soon as it is safe to do so, we'll have it in grand style!
Love always
Laurie
January 3, 2022
January 3, 2022
It was one year yesterday. I still miss you Granddad.
April 1, 2021
April 1, 2021
Today’s your birthday and we toasted a glass in your memory.
I hope that wherever you are you are celebrating the day. You are missed.
Love
Laurie
January 20, 2021
January 20, 2021
My Dear Mr. Pearce,
As a little girl you made me feel so special by asking me to bring you orange juice intuitively creating a lifetime bond. Offering a kinship to my father Larry and bringing Joanne into our lives.  Thank you for sharing so many stories of you and my dad. I treasured every one of them. 
So very glad you met and married Laurie. An intellectual equal, she always indulged you. The first story told in my presence of you throwing something you detested of hers into the ocean, as a giggling Laurie shared.  I swear only you could get away with calling such an amazing women "the blonde." Then your two beautiful sons, who reflected you in every way. Thank you for including us in your life. You gave so much. A gentleman, charming all who knew you. The knowing twinkle. You were such a delight. I will hold every memory dear. Sending very Big Hugs to your family. Love Vicki and family.
January 15, 2021
January 15, 2021
Larry was an uncle that I only met late in life.  His devotion to Laurie was obvious to anyone who saw them together. I admired Larry for his acceptance and welcome to a group of family that he never knew existed. He handled it all with acceptance, diplomacy and open arms. This meant so much to my Dad, his half brother. I am forever grateful that they met and formed a relationship. My deepest condolences to Laurie and all the family. I hope one day I have the opportunity to meet the rest of Larry’s family.
January 15, 2021
January 15, 2021
I spent a few terrific years working for the Emergency Social Services Association when Larry was the President. Through that time I got to know Larry and Laurie quite well, and had the pleasure of being invited to their house for dinner on a number of occasions. Larry was a joy to work for and with. He was a gentleman in every respect and a very knowledgeable person when it came to emergency preparedness and management. I learned a lot from him. We shared many hours together working on behalf of all the ESS volunteers in the province and I like to think we accomplished a lot on their behalf during our relatively short time together. RIP Larry!!!
January 13, 2021
January 13, 2021
We are deeply saddened at the thought of not seeing Larry’s "knowing grin" with that twinkle in his eye. Always kind, wise, and with a dash of mischievous humour. Both of us have so many wonderful memories of moments that we have each shared with Larry and we will cherish those always. Dee still talks about their the shared laughter, music and lunches during their outings… and those were in route to/from doctor visits! He adored Laurie. I don’t think I ever had a visit with Larry when he didn’t express his love and admiration of her many qualities… her cooking most definitely always included!

We have lost more than a neighbour, we’ve lost a dear friend. Our deepest condolences to Laurie, Scott and Family.

Doug & Dee Fleming
January 13, 2021
January 13, 2021
Larry, I will miss your fun and loving energy and care to make this world a better place. Your contributions to Emergency Management have been instrumental in advancing this field. CRHNet will not be the same without you. My thoughts are with you Laurie, and your family. XO
January 13, 2021
January 13, 2021
Larry was a wonderful spirit and always a pleasure to be around. I got to know him very well through the construction of his and Laurie’s home on Indian Arm. I always felt welcomed and sensed a natural rapport with Larry. My deepest condolences to Laurie and family.
January 12, 2021
January 12, 2021
Larry was a kind and generous man with a finely tuned sense of humour. I hold dear the many good times he and Laurie and Dianne and I shared, one of the most memorable being an astonishingly fine dinner at their home up Indian Arm at which Larry made his famous (and ever so much appreciated) crab cakes. He will be missed.
January 11, 2021
January 11, 2021
Larry was one of the kindest and gentle men that I have ever met. I have told to my friends I have a real gentleman in my next door. He loved my Korean food and welcomed me whenever I visited him. His smile will be remembered for a long time. There have been two parties in Canada that I loved and enjoyed most were Larry's birthday party and Carol ship parade party hosted by Larry's lovely wife Laurie. Zak and I will miss Larry so much...
January 10, 2021
January 10, 2021
Dear Laurie my deepest condolences to you and family.
A chance encounter while convalescing at LVCC in 2019 is where I met Larry. He was quick to say hello and the weeks following were filled with wonderful stories of his career and travels. He had a marvelous sense of humour and we shared many laughs. I looked forward to sharing meals with him. 
He had a twinkle in his eye when he mentioned his beloved Laurie and his family.
It was a pleasure to have met him.
January 10, 2021
January 10, 2021
I’m very sorry to read that Larry passed away. I remember meeting him during a field trip when Laurie was teaching at BCIT. I recall him being so nice and friendly. As a former student, I wanted to send my sincerest condolences to Laurie, and all your family and friends.
January 10, 2021
January 10, 2021
The thought of not spending another moment with Larry, our neighbour and friend, rents a giant hole in our hearts. Memories of this honourable gentleman, his kindness and endearing story telling will fill our souls forever. Brian and Mary Jane
January 9, 2021
January 9, 2021
Larry was a wonderful father for his two sons, Kelly and Scott, he was also a loving husband for Laurie and a great, grandad for Allie. He enjoyed having people over to his home where he could make a fantastic salmon on the bbq. Many a dinner involved good conversation about everything and anything from stories of when he was in the military to tales of past trips or maybe even the latest news on what wine was now in stock at the wine store up the road. I always enjoyed talking with him about the latest new murder drama series on PBS. Larry loved to sing, he even joined the choir when he was stuck in Lynn Valley care home with his broken ankle. He would hear them starting to practice and try to hurry us along with our visits so he could get to the practice. Larry was a super nice guy who will always remain in our hearts.
January 8, 2021
January 8, 2021
My sincerest condolences to Laurie, Family & Friends on Larry's passing.
Larry was a true gentleman and a gracious host during our summer vacations visiting Donna & Armand at Sunshine Falls.
Rest in Peace Larry
January 8, 2021
January 8, 2021
Larry wasn’t only a neighbour or friend, he was family. The first time we came to view the property we purchased at Sunshine in early 1996, he embraced us like we were long lost cousins and things just got closer as years went on. We spent most holidays, Christmas, birthdays, April Fools Day ( that was Larry’s B-day lol) together. We dined, wine tasted, watched sunsets, discussed politics,religion, roads issues, loves and dislikes - never a negative or sore word. We were close, so close that it’s not possible to believe he’s still not with us. In navigating his health challenges the past number of years, we supported his courage and determination- he was not going to leave his Goddess Laurie till God just said, we need you in heaven to manage emergency Preparedness- and no one else will do. So Larry, as the Wagon train characters say- Happy Trails, we love you and have many many fond memories of your wonderful kinship. Armand can’t watch that show without you.
January 8, 2021
January 8, 2021
Dear Laurie and family,
I’m sorry for your loss. I feel lucky to have known Larry and benefitted from his wisdom and great experience in emergency management.
Best,
Fiona
January 7, 2021
January 7, 2021
Larry was a good man who loved his family and cherished his friends and he was loved and cherished in return. I will certainly miss our conversations. 
January 6, 2021
January 6, 2021
My Dad and I had a great relationship. As an adult, I was incredibly lucky to be able to spend so much time with him. Looking back, it doesn't seem like it was enough though.

January 6, 2021
January 6, 2021
I was saddened to hear about the loss of my Granddad, Larry. I will miss you, and am grateful for the time we got to spend together.
January 6, 2021
January 6, 2021
I am so grateful for the many years we had together; we shared so much - our work and passion for improving the state of emergency management in Canada, the trips we took around the world, and the support and love from family and friends. I just wish we had had more time. Larry was the love of my life and I will, and do, miss him terribly.

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Recent Tributes
January 2, 2023
January 2, 2023
You are in our hearts always Larry, but especially in the holidays where we celebrated so many happy times. Armand watches Bonanza but can’t find Wagon Trail anymore- bet you are laughing down at us.
January 2, 2023
January 2, 2023
Thinking of your amazing family and friends today. I'm sure you were impressed with the wake, honouring you in a wonderful way! Big Hugs to All. Wishing you the peace of being surrounded by Mr. Pearce's love. 
Recent stories
January 22, 2021
I was 1 day old when I first met Larry, my Granddad. I don’t remember that meeting.

But I do have countless memories of Granddad.

Whenever I went to his house, I would shout "Hello is there another home?!" and either he or Laurie would say "No, no one is home!" I have no idea how that started.

When I was about 6 or 7, my parents were away for the weekend. My Granddad had promised to take me out on his boat during the weekend. However, when we got up in the morning, Granddad’s boat was on the neighbour’s dock! Apparently, there was a big storm in the middle of the night, that had blown the boat over there! So we couldn’t go out THAT weekend!

We did eventually get to go out on the boat though because he got a new boat, but he still used to old one to fetch the crabs from the crab trap once it was repaired. I was really scared to go out because I believed that the boat had sunk, but I was okay with it once I found out that he and his nephew, had gone on it and we're okay. We also went across the way to raccoon island on his boat once. It was a lot further then it looked!

Then there was the time we tried to go fishing from his dock, but we just could not catch any fish. My Granddad told me it was because the lures we were using weren't good enough, even the one that we thought would be good, didn't work.

There was also the time we were out so somewhere, probably to the driving range, and went to McDonald's after. We both got caramel sundaes. I remember trying to scrape the caramel sauce off the side of the sundae cup with my spoon. When I was finished, I gave the spoon to my Granddad to toss, he said: "there is candy on this spoon!" I do not know why, but I always found that funny.

Whenever, I was staying with him, and we went out somewhere, we pretended the windy road to his house through the woods was an amusement park ride! That road can be scary, but it is actually quite fun when you are a kid.

I was also fascinated with the storage basement in his old house, and always wondered what behind the door which lead to the wine cellar. Once, I asked Granddad what is was, and he said "it's a wine cellar", and for some reason, even though I was years away from being legal, I always wanted to go in there. 

There are many more stories and memories I have with my Granddad, going Science World (twice), going to Granville Island, and playing with the teddy bears he used to have in his attic. 

I will miss you, Granddad!

Love,

Allie

One about Golf

January 6, 2021
Jan 6th
Dad lived such an interesting life - he did lot of great work over his 86+ years, visited so many places and made so many life-long friends. No surprise that many of his most valued interests were social in nature - he played a lot of bridge, and I have to imagine thousands of rounds of golf. (Shot a hole-in-one!) Most of the volunteer work he did after retiring (for the 2nd time, and even then he never really retired completely) was working with other people - more opportunities to forge new relationships. 
Dad would have loved it if I were a better golfer. I'm sure he at times imagined me getting on the PGA tour! The best chance I would likely have had of making it to the tour would have been as greenskeeper. With the popularity of golf in the 80s, Dad tried to convince me that being a golf course superintendent would be a great career - lots of courses being built at that time. 
I did work at the exclusive Capilano Golf & Country Club for two summers, and the best part of that Job was being able to invite my Dad for a round of golf on the well known Stanley Thompson designed course. I once went on a short road trip with Dad when he was the Director of Emergency Preparedness for BC & the Yukon - the trip was for work, and I went along to keep him company. Not  surprisingly, we managed to fit in a round of golf in Kamloops at a Robert Trent Jones designed course - Rivershore - (Jones worked with Stanley Thompson early in his career as a golf course architect) Way too many bunkers for me - Dad was very patient! 

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