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 MissionB次元官网网址檚 Hayward Lake on July 27.
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Nugent was described as the type of person who would respond to a friendB次元官网网址檚 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 heB次元官网网址檇 just met a razor, soap, bread, sandwich meat and clean socks.
He was B次元官网网址渁 stand-up guy,B次元官网网址� she related, B次元官网网址渁 straight talker, a dad, a coach, a hero.B次元官网网址�
There were cheers and laughter as she described her husband as someone who B次元官网网址渓ived his life at full volume,B次元官网网址� 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 B次元官网网址渇ull-on dadB次元官网网址� to his three children, is the way she put it.
B次元官网网址淗e wanted to make sure his little girl married a great man and he wanted his sons to be great men,B次元官网网址� she told the audience.
His life mission was to make her happy, and he succeeded, she said.
B次元官网网址淲e had a love that was so big and so rare, and we cherished it,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淥ur love was steady, constant and true.B次元官网网址�
His last act of heroism wasnB次元官网网址檛 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 B次元官网网址淢elodyB次元官网网址� told the audience she will never forget ShaunB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渂ig bear hug,B次元官网网址� and how he B次元官网网址渓aughed from his belly.B次元官网网址�
His brother, R.J. said Shaun was B次元官网网址渁bsolutely everything to me,B次元官网网址� and describned how they used to argue B次元官网网址渨ho would go first.B次元官网网址�
A business partner praised him as a B次元官网网址渟traight ttalker [who was] sincere as hell.B次元官网网址�
He said Nugent would put in 14- to 16-hour days and work Saturdays to delivered on his promises.
B次元官网网址淭ruly fearlessB次元官网网址� 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 B次元官网网址渢hat was awesome! LetB次元官网网址檚 do it again!B次元官网网址�
After the celebration of life a barbecue was planned, with attendees encouraged to share more stories about NugentB次元官网网址檚 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 familyB次元官网网址檚 request, but the Langley Advance Times was permitted to attend and take notes.
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