Wallace Wallie Harley Caird

      Wallace Harley Caird was a modest man, quiet and observant in his ways. He was trustworthy and traditional in his approach to his life and in his relationships. He had a great sense of humor and a kind of “stick to it” attitude that earned the respect of all who knew him. He was also a man who was meticulous, carefully disciplined, and orderly in virtually everything he undertook. Realistic about life, he was always at the ready, prepared to take on responsibility.

      Wallie was born on December 7, 1925 at Seeley's Bay in Leeds, Ontario. His parents were Sidney and Celia Caird. Wallie was raised on the Caird's dairy farm. He was brought up to be self-confident and dependable. These were traits that would serve him well throughout his life.

      Growing up in the Caird household was a bit different than most homes. There were good times to be had, but just as often there was a fair share of challenges as well. However, Wallie was able to work through the usual family problems when they appeared, and he was the one person in the family who seemed able to keep the stress at bay. Wallie was raised on a dairy farm with nine siblings. He had six brothers and three sisters, Wallie was the youngest of the family and the last remaining of the Sidney and Celia Caird children. Wallie was constantly involved in taking care of the farm with his brothers and sisters. Wallie and one of his brothers would be up before the sun every morning to hand milk the 30 or more dairy cows before they had breakfast and then began the work day on the farm.

       Compassionate and devoted to Liz, Wallie held endearing, traditional values about marriage and family life. He took the responsibility of marriage to heart, giving it his total commitment. He was a source of strength to Liz and using his gifts at nurturing one-on-one relationships, he worked hard to make his new family happy.

      Wallie brought the same traditional values in his marriage to bear on how he raised his children. He was a good parent to them, always firm yet fair in his dealings. He would always listen carefully and think things through before he acted, even when it was an adverse situation. Wallie was blessed with two children, two sons, Patric and Robert. Wallie was also blessed with 2 grandchildren from Patric, Julian and Sophie Caird whom he loved very deeply.

      Wallie greatly enjoyed what he did for a living. He was a hard worker who expected the same in return from his co-workers. He was skilled at working effectively in small groups and in one-on-one situations as well as handling solo assignments efficiently. Wallie enjoyed dealing with concrete ideas and could penetrate any amount of fuzzy information to reach the essential facts. Always able to attend to the task at hand, Wallie was excellent at meeting deadlines. He was an efficient worker, one who paid careful attention to detail, allowing sufficient time to complete one task before moving on to the next. His primary occupation was as the regional manager for Qantas Airways in Toronto for over 21 years. Then he opened and operated the Bayshore Flowers in Vancouver, BC for over 12 years. Wallie worked hard at all that he did, and took great pride in all his efforts.

      Wallie was enlisted as a private in the Canadian Army during WW2. He was in the France. Wallie saw action for two years from 1944 to 1946. Through his hard work and dedication, he received praise for his valor, including being awarded France and German Star. A literal thinker who possessed a calm exterior, Wallie seemed to enjoy the routines set forth by the military. His results-oriented approach to things made him committed to the job, and he understood well his role in serving his country. It was the war that took Wallie away from the farm and opened his eyes to the business world outside the fields of wheat and dairy cows.

      Commitment is a key word that can be used to describe the life of Wallace Harley Caird. He was committed to living the life of a good man who was both practical, loyal and trustworthy. He was committed to the traditional values that he upheld his entire life. He committed himself to being a hard worker who expected the same effort in return from those around him. Most of all, he was committed to those he knew and loved.

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Wallace Harley Caird

December 7, 1925 - April 17, 2012

Surrounded by love, Wallie peacefully slipped away shortly after 10:00pm on April 17, 2012.

Wallie's last weeks were spent at the Marion Hospice where he enjoyed many visits from friends and relatives. Family members stayed close as the doctors, nurses and care aides of the Hospice provided compassionate, loving and thoughtful care.

Wallie was predeceased by his loving wife Elizabeth in May, 2006 and will be missed more than words can express - by his sons, Patric (Wendel) and Robert (Stephanie); his adored grandson, Julian and his treasured granddaughter Sophie; as well as his many friends.

A Celebration of Wallie's Life will be on Saturday, May 5th at 10:00 a.m. at the Boal Chapel in North Vancouver located at 1505 Lillooet Road. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Marion Hospice in Vancouver.

More info and stories of Wallie can be found at:

www.mem.com enter Wallace Caird