February 13, 1934 - November 19, 2024
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our Dad, George L. Watt, on November 19, 2024, in Vancouver, B.C.
Dad was born in Tranent, East Lothian, Scotland. He grew up one of seven children and remained close to the last of his siblings to survive him, his twin sister, Elizabeth. His love and pride for Scotland were evident throughout his 90 years of life, and he often talked fondly of his beloved home country.
After finishing high school, Dad attended the Edinburgh School of Building and Crafts for one year. He then started his apprenticeship as a French Polisher. In May of 1952, Dad was conscripted into the British Army for National Service. After two trips overseas, Dad spent the rest of his army service at the War Office in London as a cipher decoder. Dad was in the contingent of the Royal Army Signals Corps and marched in the parade for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
After making the decision to move to Canada in 1965, largely motivated by tales of great fishing, our family lived in Kitimat until moving to Roberts Creek on the Sunshine Coast in 1976. Dad was hired at Port Mellon as a painter, where he worked until his retirement in 1999. In 1984, he was hired as the caretaker of the Gamma Phi Beta Girls Camp in West Sechelt. He looked after the Camp for the next 19 years until it closed down in 2003. Dad was meticulous, as always, in his work there and went above and beyond to ensure the safety and fun for the campers each summer.
Dad is survived by his wife of 26 years, Lucy; his children, Andrew, Anne, and Sue; his grandchildren, Sarah, Seth, Clayton, Emily, Ian, Maddie, Jack, and Zee; as well as his great-grandchildren, Cora and Oliver. He will be greatly missed by many friends and extended family, including his step-daughters, Sarah and Vicky, and former sister-in-law, Anne Nicol. Dad was predeceased by his ex-wife, friend, and mother of his children, Margaret, in 2023.
As per Dad’s wishes, his ashes will be taken back to his native Scotland and scattered in St. Mary’s Loch in the beautiful Border Country he loved so much. There, he will be reunited with his father, James, and older brothers, Andrew and John. Together again at a favourite spot to do some fishing.
