Mr. Lloyd James Billard CD

Lloyd James Billard was born on December 18th, 1934 on a Tuesday in the small coastal outport of Grand Bruit, Newfoundland and Labrador. His father was a fisherman, and his mother cared for the family and raised the children. Lloyd enjoyed a rich childhood with his siblings in this small outport and left home a young man in search of adventure and employment. He travelled to Toronto to live for the next few years, working locally for CN, and then took a television repair course and went to work for Westinghouse. Lloyd then spent 4 seasons on the big boats of the Great Lakes. Lloyd would travel home every year to visit his family in Grand Bruit. After the Great Lakes, Lloyd enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, and later with the Canadian Armed Forces as a Radar Technician. Lloyd retired at the rank Sergeant after 22 ½ years with the military. Lloyd’s ongoing training took him away from his family annually to many locations in Canada and the United States. One such trip took him to the deep south in Mississippi when the segregation of African Americans was common practice.

Lloyd and his family moved several times during the course of his military career from one coast to the other. Lloyd met Jean in New Haven when her brother Sandy brought Lloyd home to spend Christmas in Neil’s Harbour where Lloyd had many relatives. Lloyd and Jean began dating, and married in November of 1963. After the wedding, they spent their honeymoon driving across the country to Comox, British Columbia where they lived for the next 3 years. Lloyd’s first child, son James Llewelyn was born there, and Jean was ready to have their second when they were moved to North Bay, Ontario. Lloyd’s daughters Judith Ann, Catherine and Kimberly Mae were all born in North Bay. Infant daughter Catherine died shortly after birth.

After more than 5 years there, Lloyd and his family then moved north to Armstrong, Ontario for the next two years where he enjoyed many hours in the wilderness of northern Ontario with his family. The next move brought Lloyd and his family to Chatham, New Brunswick (now Miramichi) for 4 years. When the next post came, it was for another northern climate – Goose Bay, Labrador. The family was up for the adventure of the frozen north, and enjoyed their time both inside and out. Lloyd then retired from the military life after 22 ½ years, and took a position with Transport Canada (Nav Canada) as an electronic technician. The new job came with another move, this time to Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador. The family lived off base for the first time in many years, which was quite different. Lloyd enjoyed being so close to his childhood home in Grand Bruit and travelled there at each opportunity. Lloyd and his family then moved north once again to Goose Bay, and before long, had just one child still living at home. The family enjoyed life in Goose Bay, and kept busy with the activities of everyday life in a northern town. Lloyd was then offered the opportunity to work at the Halifax airport, and moved his family to Enfield, and enjoyed life in the Maritimes once again.

Lloyd’s last move came shortly after their youngest child moved out on her own and he was transferred to Gander, Newfoundland and moved there with Jean. Lloyd retired from this position, and then carried out the retirement plan of his hopes and dreams – to build his own house and retire with his wife in Grand Bruit. Lloyd and Jean spent 12 wonderful years in Grand Bruit, enjoying the ever-changing landscape around them through all seasons. Lloyd fished, hunted, picked berries, and was a skilled craftsman.

All through the many moves, Lloyd treasured time spent with family and traveled with his family all over the country to visit relatives, and made the yearly pilgrimage to Grand Bruit from wherever he lived, thoroughly enjoying his time there. Lloyd’s parents and in-laws came to visit often, and cherished their time with Lloyd and his family.

Lloyd was involved in a wide variety of activities throughout the years. He was a literacy tutor, a union shop steward, a bartender, and volunteered with the Lion’s Club, the Local Service District Committee of Grand Bruit, the Transportation Committee of Grand Bruit, the Girl Guides, and donated blood on a regular basis. Lloyd was active in team sports such as bowling, curling, baseball, darts, and loved to snowmobile. Lloyd was an avid boatman who enjoyed designing and building small boats. He owned a canoe for much of his life, and at one point owned a moped and later a dirt bike. In his retirement, Lloyd spent many hours in his speedboat, ferrying family and friends to the cabin he built, and spent many hours under the warm summer sun, picking berries on the islands. He enjoyed fishing and hunting as much as feeding on the fruits of his labours. Lloyd built and maintained several storehouses and sheds in his lifetime, ensuring he had a space in which to putter and store his extensive collection of tools. Lloyd also built sheds for others who respected his workmanship.

Lloyd spent many hours with his children and grandchildren, passing along whatever knowledge he could, through books, games, travel, conversation, and often helped his children and grandchildren with their homework, both near and afar. From the simplest of games like “I Spy” to the complexities of card playing, Lloyd enjoyed them all. Lloyd was a passionate reader and stocked his home with a wealth of information, such as encyclopedias, maps, and special interest books. Lloyd instilled this passion in his children who are all avid readers today.

Lloyd was unable to complete his schooling prior to moving out of Grand Bruit as a youth. There were no teachers available for his grade that year. Lloyd later went on to complete his high school curriculum, spending many hours at home working and studying, alongside his children, and attended night school. He then finally obtained his High School diploma, for which his family is very proud.

When Lloyd became ill a few years prior to his death, he was unable to participate in anything particularly physical, and became inspired to put some of his years of knowledge to paper. Lloyd wrote out story after story about his life spent in Newfoundland and his travels across the country. He would print these stories off and share them with anyone who asked. His children and grandchildren were thrilled with his newfound retirement hobby, and treasure his writings.

Lloyd was a wonderful person, a compassionate man, a loving husband, a respected father, treasured grandfather, and loyal friend. Lloyd will be greatly missed by the love of his life, Jean, cherished wife of nearly 46 years, along with his son, James Billard (Susan); granddaughter, Olivia; daughter, Jude Billard; granddaughter, Amber; daughter, Kimm Billard-Verbeek (Gord), and grandsons Alexander, Simon, and Cameron. Lloyd is survived by his brothers, Llewelyn (Thelma), Joshua (Lorraine), and Douglas (Florence). He was predeceased by his infant daughter, Catherine; parents, John and Elizabeth Billard (Lillington); brothers, Nathan, George, and Jack; and sister Flora Nystedt (Billard).

Arrangements under the direction of A.L. Mattatall Funeral Home, Dartmouth, NS.