larry Paul Gaskell

It is with forever broken hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Larry Paul Gaskell on July 8, 2024, at the age of 78. Larry was born on April 3, in Port Medway during a blinding snowstorm. Having joined the US Air Force in his teens, he served several years in California and the Azores. Upon his return home, to Nova Scotia, he worked as a lobster fisherman and later for many years as a carpenter. Larry always felt blessed to have had two great loves in his life. In 1970, he married Eunice Smiley, and in 2009, he married Vladka MacDonald. Larry loved get-togethers, playing pool, golf, poker, the family game of Ruthless, reading, and watching CNN. He especially loved traveling and was looking forward to more adventures. Larry was diagnosed with cancer in late May 2024. His close family and friends treasured the next six weeks, reminiscing about everything that was important to him. These times will be cherished forever. Larry was known for his kind, soft-spoken manner and sweet easy-going nature, with a love of joking around to make others laugh. He would chat with anyone he met, even while standing in line. His coworkers sometimes engaged him in conversation just to extend their breaks. Larry used his carpentry skills to help family, friends and neighbours. He always had kind words to say about others and never spoke ill of anyone. Larry treated everyone like family, and to him, family was very important. Larry was predeceased by his first wife Eunice, his father William and mother Pauline, his ‘like a brother’ Bud Selig, and several Smiley in-laws. He is survived by wife Vladka; children Michelle (Brenda), Julie (Guy), Shawn (Hali), and stepson Shawn (Janeil); siblings Donald (Marilyn), Sharon (Blair), and Darlene (John); grandchildren Rachelle, Emalla, and Zachary; mother-in-law Elena; son-in-law Gary; sister-in-law Jana (David); many Smiley in-laws he still considered family; many nieces and nephews; and Princess Sophie (the cat). Please join us to celebrate Larry’s life on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at the Port Medway fire hall, 66 Long Cove Road. A service will be held at 1pm, followed by a social gathering to share memories of the wonderful man we all knew. For those unable to attend in person, a Facebook live stream of the service will be available. To access the stream, please befriend Julie Gaskell Desgagne on Facebook and visit her profile. In lieu of sending flowers, donations can be made to Halifax Hospice. “I’ve had a great life with no regrets. I’ll see you in a little bit “ - Larry Gaskell

larry Paul Gaskell

April 3, 1946 - July 8, 2024