When Shaun Nugent jumped into a lake to rescue a woman from drowning, it was an act that was very much in character, speakers at a celebration of life for the Langley man said.
About 400 people packed the Brookswood Senior Centre Saturday afternoon to pay tribute to Nugent, who died the day after he pulled a swimmer in distress from Mission乌鸦传媒檚 Hayward Lake on July 27.
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Nugent was described as the type of person who would respond to a friend乌鸦传媒檚 request for help at any hour of the day or night and would just as readily come to the aid of a stranger.
At the celebration of life for Nugent, his wife Lianne described how her husband once interrupted an evening out to help a homeless man get ready for a job interview, by buying the man he乌鸦传媒檇 just met a razor, soap, bread, sandwich meat and clean socks.
He was 乌鸦传媒渁 stand-up guy,乌鸦传媒� she related, 乌鸦传媒渁 straight talker, a dad, a coach, a hero.乌鸦传媒�
There were cheers and laughter as she described her husband as someone who 乌鸦传媒渓ived his life at full volume,乌鸦传媒� whose language could be colourful, but would open doors and pull out chairs for her.
She described how he would take a beer glass home from a night out, but cover the cost in the tip he left behind.
He was a 乌鸦传媒渇ull-on dad乌鸦传媒� to his three children, is the way she put it.
乌鸦传媒淗e wanted to make sure his little girl married a great man and he wanted his sons to be great men,乌鸦传媒� she told the audience.
His life mission was to make her happy, and he succeeded, she said.
乌鸦传媒淲e had a love that was so big and so rare, and we cherished it,乌鸦传媒� she said.
乌鸦传媒淥ur love was steady, constant and true.乌鸦传媒�
His last act of heroism wasn乌鸦传媒檛 the rescue at the lake, she maintained, but instead it was the time he spent with his children on what turned out be his last day.
A family friend who identified herself as 乌鸦传媒淢elody乌鸦传媒� told the audience she will never forget Shaun乌鸦传媒檚 乌鸦传媒渂ig bear hug,乌鸦传媒� and how he 乌鸦传媒渓aughed from his belly.乌鸦传媒�
His brother, R.J. said Shaun was 乌鸦传媒渁bsolutely everything to me,乌鸦传媒� and describned how they used to argue 乌鸦传媒渨ho would go first.乌鸦传媒�
A business partner praised him as a 乌鸦传媒渟traight ttalker [who was] sincere as hell.乌鸦传媒�
He said Nugent would put in 14- to 16-hour days and work Saturdays to delivered on his promises.
乌鸦传媒淭ruly fearless乌鸦传媒� is how another family friend described Nugent, recalling a fishing trip when the water was so rough the boat literally went airborne off a big wave and after it came down, safely, Nugent yelled 乌鸦传媒渢hat was awesome! Let乌鸦传媒檚 do it again!乌鸦传媒�
After the celebration of life a barbecue was planned, with attendees encouraged to share more stories about Nugent乌鸦传媒檚 life.
In the reception foyer outside the hall, one wall was covered with photos of Nugent and his family.
No cameras or recording devices were allowed at the celebration of life at the family乌鸦传媒檚 request, but the Langley Advance Times was permitted to attend and take notes.
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