Obituary of David Barry LeDrew

Gone Fishin'
 

We share with you the celebration and joy of 90 years in the amazing and original life of David Barry LeDrew who departed on August 22 for a long-overdue fishing trip to streams, brooks and trouting holes yet to be discovered..

Dave will be so missed by Betty-Lou (Parsons) “Never a dull moment” in their sixty seven years of marriage.

Dave lived  a life of adventure from “stealing” his dad's plane to landing on the Blomidon Golf course with his soon-to-be partner in crime Betty Lou, to attend his sister Shirleys wedding to Fred Sweetland being held at the Blomidon Golf Club.  It was just the beginning of the many escapades ahead always with a pocket full of dog biscuits..

Following a ten year stint in the RCAF in Canada and Europe, Dave returned to his hometown of Corner Brook where he set up shop on Broadway.

He was the manager of Marble Mountain, host of a CFCB radio talk show and for the past 30 plus years the familiar face at  Newfoundland Emporium  - an antique and NL craft store filled to the brim with thousands of rare books and one-of-kind items. For more than 30 years, right up until two weeks ago, Dave, along with his Newfoundland dogs..”Moose”, Flossie and recently Maggie,  could be found at his  store every day of the week.

Dave was a kind and generous man, one who loved nothing better than pulling off onto a dirt road and jumping into a cold brook with the love of his life, Betty Lou.. 
Some of his happiest moments were playing with his children and in later years, grandchildren building spaceships, doing treasure hunts, zip lines...and, of course, taking them fishing to his secret spots..

Our Dave, aka Super Dave  who often announced his arrival with a Tarzan-like yodel, will be sorely missed by his children, infant son David who died in Germany at birth, Jonathan “Tree”, Frank, Lisa (Paul), Scott, and Suzie Q (Gilles). Grandchildren: Courtney (Rachael), Jason (Carley), Nicole (Jack), Jessica (Ryan), Brandon (Alysha), Jade (Luka), Ava, Lisa and Noah and great-grandchildren Brooke, Josie, Cameron, Francis, Lucy, and little Lilly Lovebug.

Predeceased by his parents Frank and Florizel (Flossie) LeDrew and dear sister Terry, in-laws Selby and Jeanne Parsons, Vince Keyes, Doug Gray and Fred Sweetland,  Dave  leaves behind the love of his love, Betty-Lou (Parsons ) siblings Shirley,  Stewart (Joan), Brenda, Deborah (Frank) and sister-in-law Peggy-Ann Gray.

Thank you to the staff on the fifth floor of Western Memorial Hospital, the Palliative care unit and Doctors Grant, Lafferty and a special thank you to his Doctor and friend Dr. Mark Smallwood for the amazing care provided to Dave, and also to the family. Your kindness has helped us through a difficult time...

And a special thanks to Michel Levasseur who has been so kind to our family over the past years and Daves other boss, the Newfoundland Emporium store manager and friend Leigh-Ann Maxwell.

Dave..husband, father, brother, friend, crazy uncle to his many nieces and nephews, was a man who always marched to the beat of his own drum. A great man...our legend, we will never forget you. He was one of a kind, we love you.

In lieu of  flowers, donations can be made in Daves name to Western Memorial Hospital Foundation, Palliative Care or Mental Health.

For those wishing to pay their respects to David, a visitation will take place at Fillatre’s Funeral Home, 4 St. Marks avenue on Monday, August 25, 2025 from the hours of 2-4 and 7-9pm. Friends of the family are welcomed to attend a celebration of Daves marvelous life at the Park West restaurant, 18 Park Street, on Tuesday, August 26, 2025 from 3-6pm.