Obituary of Edwin Brewerton Carlson

Ed Carlson 1923 - 2015 Our great-grandpa always said he didn't want a funeral, but we know he would be honoured and humbled at the show of support we have received at this very difficult time. Grandpa grew up in Alberta during the Depression years. One story he told us was about a mud hole in the road near their farm where cars would get stuck. When it started to dry up he and his brother Norman would haul water into it so they could make five or ten cents by pulling the cars out to go to a picnic. Grandpa Ed joined the army in 1942 and served in England and North West Europe and came home in 1946. He said he was not interested in a European vacation because he had already walked across it. He stayed in the army until 1955 and was stationed at Dawson Creek, and has lived here ever since. He was a Master Mechanic and worked on the highways for many years. After he retired he started working more on tractors. His interest in local history and restoring old tractors reflected a way of life he feared would not be remembered. For years he rebuilt tractors in his shop with help from friends and many local businesses around town. He won many trophies and his tractors were sold around the world. Every fall a hunk of rust would go into the shop and every spring a shiny tractor would emerge. Grandpa used to say that "if the tractor wasn't as old as him it wasn't worth rebuilding". Grandpa Ed was a proud member of the Operating Engineers Local 115, a lifetime member of the Beaverlodge Historical Museum, the Royal Canadian Legion, supporter and participant at the Wanham Plowing Match, and looked forward every year to old time threshing events in various areas from Ft. St. John to Grande Prairie and most recently at Kimbal's Farm in late September of this year. Grandpa was predeceased by his first wife Rose and his younger brother Norman. Grandpa's parents are buried at Willow Grove Cemetery near St. Paul, Alberta, where his ashes will be taken in June next summer. He will be greatly missed by all of us. A Celebration of Life was held Monday, November 2, 2015 at the Senior Citizens Hall in Dawson Creek, British Columbia. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Ed may be made by donation to the South Peace Historical Society, 900 Alaska Hwy, Dawson Creek, British Columbia, V1G 4T6 or the Beaverlodge Historical Society, P.O. Box 115, Beaverlodge, Alberta, T0H 0C0. Arrangements were entrusted to Bergeron Funeral Services and Crematorium Ltd. Service 3:00 pm Monday, November 2, 2015 Senior Citizens Hall 1101 McKellar Ave DAWSON CREEK, British Columbia, Canada V1G 2S2