The family of Gary Paul Marsh, 77, of East Chester, wishes to share the news of his passing from lung cancer on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at Fisherman’s Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg. Gary was born in Swansea, Wales, to the late Clem and Ann (Bennett) Marsh, and moved to Canada with his family as a small child, arriving through Pier 21 in Halifax.

Raised in his father’s hometown of Grand Falls, NL, Gary joined the Cadet Corps as a youth, graduated from Grand Falls Academy at age 16, and then moved to St. John’s to continue his studies. After graduating from Memorial University, Gary’s first job took him to the rural community of Wild Cove, NL, where he taught in the local two-room schoolhouse for a year.

Whenever he recalled memories from that time, Gary always laughed about being invited by his students to join them after school for a local culinary treat: seal hearts and chips. Attempting to politely decline the invitation, he said it was because he wasn’t fond of chips. Following that brief foray into teaching, the rest of Gary’s professional life was dedicated to working for the Federal Government. Leading projects and personnel teams in several departments throughout his career, Gary retired from public service as an employee of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Gary was known for his remarkably sharp intellect, and though he was often reserved in a crowd, his dry wit was unrestrained around family and close friends who knew him best. A voracious reader, he had a “sticky mind” with an incredible ability to retain information—making him a formidable opponent during nightly viewings of Jeopardy!. When he wasn’t immersed in a book, Gary enjoyed playing cards and spending time on the golf course with family and friends; though it sometimes took two or three swings to get the ball off the tee and onto the fairway, he loved every minute on the links.

He and his partner, Lorna, shared a deep love for travel that took them to more than twenty countries, sometimes cruising the seas as a duo and often hopping on a plane to explore new places with groups of friends. For the past fifteen years, Gary and Lorna spent their winters in Arizona, where they befriended both locals and fellow snowbirds alike, and it was there where Gary refined his trash-talking skills as a crib-playing card shark.

Gary leaves behind his partner of almost thirty-nine years, Lorna Snair; his son, Adam Marsh (Sarah Ellis), his stepchildren, Monique MacEwan (Peter Fraser) and Vance MacEwan (Jacqueline Murphy MacEwan); his grandchildren, Alyssa MacEwan (Ibrahim Elfatihi), Melanie MacEwan (Josh Gallant), Halle MacEwan, and Jordan MacEwan; and his great-grandchildren, Ayman and Aya.

Gary was predeceased by his stepson Stephen MacEwan.

In accordance with Gary’s wishes, cremation has taken place and no public service will be held. Care has been entrusted to Personal Care Cremations & Memorial Services.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Soul’s Harbour Mission could be made in Gary’s memory.

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SERVICES & GATHERINGS

Service Note

In accordance with Gary’s wishes, cremation has taken place and no public service will be held.