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害羞草研究所檚 Hayward Lake on July 27.
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Nugent was described as the type of person who would respond to a friend害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檇 just met a razor, soap, bread, sandwich meat and clean socks.
He was 害羞草研究所渁 stand-up guy,害羞草研究所� she related, 害羞草研究所渁 straight talker, a dad, a coach, a hero.害羞草研究所�
There were cheers and laughter as she described her husband as someone who 害羞草研究所渓ived his life at full volume,害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所渇ull-on dad害羞草研究所� to his three children, is the way she put it.
害羞草研究所淗e wanted to make sure his little girl married a great man and he wanted his sons to be great men,害羞草研究所� she told the audience.
His life mission was to make her happy, and he succeeded, she said.
害羞草研究所淲e had a love that was so big and so rare, and we cherished it,害羞草研究所� she said.
害羞草研究所淥ur love was steady, constant and true.害羞草研究所�
His last act of heroism wasn害羞草研究所檛 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 害羞草研究所淢elody害羞草研究所� told the audience she will never forget Shaun害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渂ig bear hug,害羞草研究所� and how he 害羞草研究所渓aughed from his belly.害羞草研究所�
His brother, R.J. said Shaun was 害羞草研究所渁bsolutely everything to me,害羞草研究所� and describned how they used to argue 害羞草研究所渨ho would go first.害羞草研究所�
A business partner praised him as a 害羞草研究所渟traight ttalker [who was] sincere as hell.害羞草研究所�
He said Nugent would put in 14- to 16-hour days and work Saturdays to delivered on his promises.
害羞草研究所淭ruly fearless害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所渢hat was awesome! Let害羞草研究所檚 do it again!害羞草研究所�
After the celebration of life a barbecue was planned, with attendees encouraged to share more stories about Nugent害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 request, but the Langley Advance Times was permitted to attend and take notes.
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