Cecil Beaven

Cecil Beaven, after living a life full of happiness and joy, passed away peacefully at the Seaforth hospital with his loving wife June by his side on Dec. 23, 2021. He was in his 88th year. 

 

“Cyril” was born in Elstead Surrey, United Kingdom on Dec. 19, 1934. After sailing the world in the Merchant Marines, he joined the Royal Air Force where he served as a Military Police Officer. It was in the Royal Air Force as a police dog handler that his love for dogs began. 

 

Marrying June (Sheldrick) on Jan. 5, 1957, whom he met in the Royal Air Force, the two of them settled down in the Cottswolds in England, where Cyril served in the prison service as a guard.

 

After having three children, Rebecca, Richard and Mark, the family immigrated to Canada in April of 1971, where “Cec” continued to serve the community as a police officer in Mitchell, Ontario and then as an inspector for the Egg Farmers of Ontario until his retirement in 2004. 

 

Cecil was an avid outdoorsman and had a passion for bird-dogs. Over the years he had several Weimaraners and Springer Spaniels with which he enjoyed hunting over and competing in field trials. In 1992, it was his love of bird-dogs that led him to move to his dream home just east of the Hullett Wildlife Area, so that he could be closer to the grounds on which he loved to run his dogs. 

 

His dog training ability was proven in 1999, when his beloved dog “Buddy” won the National Amateur Field Championship in Ardmore, Oklahoma, an accomplishment of which he was very proud. 

 

The last years of his life were spent loving his grandchildren and spending every available minute with them. Whether cheering them on in their athletics, or simply spending time with them laughing and joking, it was where “Grampy” believed he had achieved his greatest accomplishment in life. 

 

Finally moving to Blyth in the summer of 2021, Cecil was able to spend his last days enjoying precious time with his family. He will be missed by many, but especially by his wife June, his children Rebecca, Richard and Mark, his grandchildren Julia, Colton, Travis and Kane and his great-grandchildren Chevy and Layla. 

 

In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that donations be made to the Friends of Hullett (www.hullettmarsh.com) so that future generations can experience the same joy of hiking the trails as Cecil did.