Cecil Lawrence Clarke

It is with great sadness that the family of Cecil Clarke announces his passing on July 1, 2026.

Cecil will be lovingly remembered by his devoted wife, Marjorie; his daughter, Janette (Dave); his sons, Jim and Norm (Dawn); his 10 grandchildren, Derek, Greg (Holly), Kevin (Christie), Bob (Amy), Amber, Brenden (Taylor), Jasmine, Evie, Austin, and Emily; his nine great-grandchildren, Harley, Kyonna, Emma, Violet, Abigail, Fiona, Luke, Lily, and Scarlett; his brother, Johnston ("Jug"); his sister-in-law, Pat; his brother-in-law, Doug; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, William and Mable, as well as his siblings and their spouses: Lucy (Bill), Stan (Gloria), Beth (Jim), Cliff (Norma Jean), Alice (Don), and Elaine. Cecil held each of them close to his heart and treasured the memories they shared.

Although he was born in Saskatchewan, Cecil's family moved to British Columbia when he was just a toddler, and the Lower Mainland became his lifelong home. Sports were a big part of his life from a young age, and he loved playing lacrosse, baseball, and hockey. As the years went by, he enjoyed giving back by coaching men's baseball and umpiring. His enthusiastic call of, "Strike three, you're outta here!" was one that players remembered, and rarely questioned.

At 17 years old, Cecil met the love of his life, Marjorie, who was 16. They were married in October 1958 and went on to share nearly 68 wonderful years together. They welcomed Janette in 1960, Jim in 1962, and Norman in 1966, building a family that became the center of Cecil's world.

Cecil was known for his generous heart and quiet acts of kindness. He would often fill shopping carts with groceries, pay for them, and ask that they be donated to the local food bank. He volunteered with Meals on Wheels, drove friends and neighbours to medical appointments, and was a proud supporter of Children's Hospital, making regular donations over the years. Helping others simply came naturally to him.

One of Cecil's greatest joys was bringing smiles to children at Christmas time. Every year at his company's Christmas party, he would dress as Santa Claus and hand out gifts that Marjorie had lovingly chosen and wrapped for the employees' children. He embraced the role so completely that even his own grandchildren never realized Santa was actually Grandpa.

Cecil spent most of his career in the plastics industry before starting his own business, KCS Plastics, in 1991. He took great pride in his work and earned the respect of his employees through his fairness, kindness, and strong work ethic.

In 2020, Cecil was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He faced the years that followed with remarkable courage, determination, and grace, never letting the diagnosis define him or take away his love for family and life.

Cecil leaves behind a lifetime of treasured memories and a legacy of kindness, generosity, and love. He will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

"When someone you love becomes a memory, that memory becomes a treasure."

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made to Parkinson's Canada in Cecil's memory.