Obituary of Cator Walwyn Best

In Loving Memory of

Cator Walwyn Best

January 25, 1936-December 22, 2025

 

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father our friend and our mentor Cator Best at his home at Parkland Fredericton.

Cator was born in Wesleyville Newfoundland during the Great Depression to Agnes (Wicks) and Jacob Best. He was one of seven children. Upon finishing high school he left home to work as a Janitor and then a Baker in Gander and a short time later was accepted to train as a Radio Operator. He graduated ten months later and started his career with MOT (Transport Canada) in Frobisher Bay (Iqaluit). Cator was forever on a quest to improve his lot in life.

While home visiting in Wesleyville on route to his second position he met Elsie (Jean) Andrews a Laboratory and X-Ray Technologist who was working at Brookfield Hospital. She became the love of his life and wife of 64 years. The two married and started their journey in life in Broadview Saskatchewan where they had their first child Garry.

Longing to return to Newfoundland the family of three drove home to Newfoundland through the fires of Central Newfoundland in summer of 1961 and on to Bonavista Bay to visit family prior to settling in Goose Bay Labrador later that summer. There they had their daughter Susan followed by Angela a short 17 months later.

From there they had a 2 year detour to Yarmouth Nova Scotia. They then moved to Cartwright Labrador for 3 years before returning to Goose Bay. In 1975 they moved to Stephenville/Kippens Newfoundland area where he took on the position of Area Operations Supervisor for the Canadian Coast Guard. His children finished high school there and Cator retired from the Federal Public Service at age 57.

In 2014 they moved to Gander Newfoundland to be closer to family and enjoy their grandchildren. In 2020 they moved to Fredericton New Brunswick to again be closer to family and to enjoy their great grandchildren.

Cator was constantly working and enjoying life. He was an avid gardener, reader, craftsman, gamesman and outdoorsman. He also loved sports and was loyal to the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Blue Jays. After listening to his first game as a young boy on CBC Radio’s Hockey Night in Canada with Foster Hewitt in which the Leafs beat Montreal he was hooked. Those who knew him will share a chuckle at how serious listening/watching a game meant…. hand up and quiet!. He especially loved picking berries and would spend many hours on the Bogs of Newfoundland and Labrador for whatever was in season. He once even spent a night on the Bog when darkness and fog caught him off guard, much to Jean’s worry. He also loved to cut his own wood and to set and check his rabbit snares. Cator was always busy outdoors and in later years taking part in whatever was on the go at Parkland. However, he was always thinking about his “Bride” Jean, checking to ensure all was good or to bring her a flower or treat. The two were a good pair, discussing various topics from politics, what to grow in the garden that year, what the grand kids or “Little Greats” did that day or how to deal with a situation at work. They had a good life.

Cator devoted many many hours to community service. Recognized as Citizen of the Year, he served as Mayor of Kippens for 12 yrs, worked on Hospital Boards, Coop Boards and other groups too numerous to mention. He was a Mason member and helped out at church ensuring it was warm and snow free for Sunday services. He often gave credit to his Mom for instilling community values. He loved to tell stories of his youth, tricks he played on his siblings and friends and he kept memories and history of life in rural Newfoundland alive through his many tales.

Cator will join his bride Jean in the afterlife along with his parents, Agnes and Jacob, brothers, Lionel (Emily) Wicks, Maxwell (Lena) Best, Leonard Best, sisters, Anne Penney, Agnes (Wilmore) Hounsell and Beryl (Calvin) Howell.

He leaves behind his son Garry and wife Johannah, daughter, Susan and husband Thomas and daughter, Angela and husband Neil. Cator will also be looking out from above for his grandsons Zachary (Morgan Fairweather), Jeffrey (Alisha), Jacob (Kathy) and great grandchildren (Little Greats) Blake and Brooklyn, Fintan and Hayden.

Words will never do justice to the Man he was. “We weren’t finished with him yet”

There will be a celebration of Cator’s life on the eve of what would have been his 90th birthday, January 24, 2026 at McAdam’s Funeral Home in Fredericton NB, beginning at 11:00 am, with Rev. Dr. Kelly Burk officiating. A reception will follow the service for a time of sharing and celebration. For those unable to attend the service in person, the event will be livestreamed here: https://vimeo.com/event/5647803.

For those wishing to pay tribute to Cator, donations can be made to Diabetes Canada in his name.