Walter, youngest son of Frederick and Minna Garrick, was born
in Dominion No. 1, county of Cape Breton, Province of Nova
Scotia, on December 17, 1906.

He moved with his parents (Minna and Frederick) and three older
brothers to Lethbridge in 1906 where his sister was born. Date
is unknown when the family moved to Wigan but they settled in
Coalhurst in 1910.

Walter grew up and received all of his schooling in Coalhurst.
He worked at various farms before moving to Detroit, Michigan,
in 1924 at eighteen years of age where he joined his two older
brothers, Bill and Harry.

He obtained a job in 1924 at Detroit as an oiler for Continental
Motors Corporation. On May 1, 1924 as the result of an accident
on the job, he lost the ring finger on his right hand.

It is interesting to note that in 1925 Walters' wages were
increased from $.70 per hour to $.75 per hour.

Walter returned to Coalhurst in 1926 where he helped his parents
on the farm and also worked at the mine.

It was during that year he met his wife-to-be who had just
moved to Coalhurst and was working at Mrs. Patton's boarding
house. She was from Blairmore.

Walter met his wife on the first day she moved to Coalhurst.
He was playing in a soccer game and she had gone to watch
the game with two of Mrs. Patton's children. It is to be noted
that it was a sports event which brought together two of the
most wonderful people I have had the extreme pleasure of
knowing.

In 1928 a son was born. Two other children, a boy and a girl
died in infancy.

In the following years Walter and his family lived at Wallace
(1929 and renamed Shaughnessy in late 1929 or early 1930)
where Walter worked at the mine. Back to Coalhurst where
they lived in a house situated on Frederick's farm. Walter
not only helped his parents on the farm but also commuted to
Picture Butte where he worked at the sugar factory.

The house was eventually moved to Picture Butte. In 1936
Walter was also employed with the Northern Coal Company
in Picture Butte.

They moved back to Coalhurst and, in 1942, Walter purchased
the original tract of land from his parents.

A number of setbacks occurred in the farming operation
and Walter obtained a job at Hamilton mine where he worked
on the head gear of No. 2 shaft and other mining functions
with Charlie Watmough in 1942-1943. Walter also worked
with Charlie on the mine tipple at Diamond City.

In the mid-forties Walter became a school van driver and
caretaker of the Coalhurst schools. His wife assisted him in
the maintenance of the schools.

Walter was actively involved in community affairs and was
a very staunch supporter of the community. He held various
positions in the Home and School Associatin, Coalhurst Water
Users Association, trustee for Coalhursts School District No.
2394, et al.

He was nominated delegate to the Olds Home and School
Convention at a regular meeting of the Coalhurst Home and
School Association. Some of the things outlined at this
meeting, in the mid-forties, were community suppers,
rummage sales, picture shows and membership drive. It
was also hoped that some means of transportation could
be arranged to take the school children to Barons for the
sports day in May.

At this meeting, Mr. William J. White, Principal of the
Coalhurst Schools, showed three educational films using
the new movie projector, and members enjoyed the lunch
Mrs. Ashcroft had prepared.

In 1948 Walter was one of the speakers at the second
meeting of the Iron Springs Home and School Association.
He was also the Vice-Chairman of the Calgary South Area
of the Alberta Home and School Federation, at the time,
and spoke of the growth of the Home and School organization
in Alberta over the past twelve months, stating that there were
4,000 new members enrolled in that period. He stressed the
need of co-operation between parents and teachers as each
would learn much from the other which would aid in producing
the type of citizens which both parents and teachers want.

Walter also assisted in the Friday night dances held in the I.O.O.F.
hall and had the somewhat dubious honour of being the "Peace-
maker" in the one or two regular sessions of fisticuffs which
usually occured.

He resigned as school van driver and caretaker in 1952 and a
poem was written by Charlie Watmough. This tribute was recited
by his daughter at a social evening of the Home and School
Association held in honour of Walter and his wife.

Walter commenced employment at the Garden Hotel in Lethbridge
and, on July 29, 1952 he and his wife moved to Lethbridge after
selling the original homestead.

On December 26, 1954 (Boxing Day) Walter passed away, at
forty-eight years of age, from injuries suffered in a traffic accident.

Walter was both loved and respected by his family and friends.
He is fondly remembered as Big Luke; or Luke by Harry Gordon
and as Bull by Duncan McNabb. To this day, Walter is still
missed but remembered with affection by those who were close
to him.

Truly - my dad was a native son of Coalhurst.

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