When Shaun Nugent jumped into a lake to rescue a woman from drowning, it was an act that was very much in character, speakers at a celebration of life for the Langley man said.

About 400 people packed the Brookswood Senior Centre Saturday afternoon to pay tribute to Nugent, who died the day after he pulled a swimmer in distress from Mission鈥檚 Hayward Lake on July 27.

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Nugent was described as the type of person who would respond to a friend鈥檚 request for help at any hour of the day or night and would just as readily come to the aid of a stranger.

At the celebration of life for Nugent, his wife Lianne described how her husband once interrupted an evening out to help a homeless man get ready for a job interview, by buying the man he鈥檇 just met a razor, soap, bread, sandwich meat and clean socks.

He was 鈥渁 stand-up guy,鈥� she related, 鈥渁 straight talker, a dad, a coach, a hero.鈥�

There were cheers and laughter as she described her husband as someone who 鈥渓ived his life at full volume,鈥� whose language could be colourful, but would open doors and pull out chairs for her.

She described how he would take a beer glass home from a night out, but cover the cost in the tip he left behind.

He was a 鈥渇ull-on dad鈥� to his three children, is the way she put it.

鈥淗e wanted to make sure his little girl married a great man and he wanted his sons to be great men,鈥� she told the audience.

His life mission was to make her happy, and he succeeded, she said.

鈥淲e had a love that was so big and so rare, and we cherished it,鈥� she said.

鈥淥ur love was steady, constant and true.鈥�

His last act of heroism wasn鈥檛 the rescue at the lake, she maintained, but instead it was the time he spent with his children on what turned out be his last day.

A family friend who identified herself as 鈥淢elody鈥� told the audience she will never forget Shaun鈥檚 鈥渂ig bear hug,鈥� and how he 鈥渓aughed from his belly.鈥�

His brother, R.J. said Shaun was 鈥渁bsolutely everything to me,鈥� and describned how they used to argue 鈥渨ho would go first.鈥�

A business partner praised him as a 鈥渟traight ttalker [who was] sincere as hell.鈥�

He said Nugent would put in 14- to 16-hour days and work Saturdays to delivered on his promises.

鈥淭ruly fearless鈥� is how another family friend described Nugent, recalling a fishing trip when the water was so rough the boat literally went airborne off a big wave and after it came down, safely, Nugent yelled 鈥渢hat was awesome! Let鈥檚 do it again!鈥�

After the celebration of life a barbecue was planned, with attendees encouraged to share more stories about Nugent鈥檚 life.

In the reception foyer outside the hall, one wall was covered with photos of Nugent and his family.

No cameras or recording devices were allowed at the celebration of life at the family鈥檚 request, but the Langley Advance Times was permitted to attend and take notes.

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Email: dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com

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