Captain Douglas Carter

Obituary of Captain Douglas Carter

Please share a memory of Captain Douglas to include in a keepsake book for family and friends.
With both sadness and gratitude, the family of Captain Douglas Carter shares news of his passing. On June 6th, 2025, a sunny spring morning, surrounded by love, he slipped into a peaceful sleep and cast off one last time. To us, he was known as Dad and to many, Grampy Doug. Born December 21, 1932, in François, Newfoundland, to Julia and Edward Carter, Grampy grew up in the remote, cliff-lined outport with his four siblings. At just 12, he took to the sea, beginning his 55-year fishing career. Grampy captained draggers on the North Atlantic for over 40 years, moving his home base with the changing tides of the fishery, to Louisbourg, Mulgrave, North Sydney, Canso, Peas Brook, and Lunenburg, until finally retiring to North Sydney in 1999. To his crews, he was known to be tough, fair, and someone who always brought his crew home safely. As a young man, he met Piney Anderson in Burgeo, and they were something special from the start. They married on June 25, 1952, and together, they built a life grounded in devotion to each other and to their family. Grampy gave his love freely, unfailingly, making each of us feel like his favourite. He took his kids on day trips and picnics, hauled grandkids to the beach, and taught almost all of us how to swim. He swam like a frog but was faster than anyone (even with kids hanging off him). We walked with him and rode his shoulders down to the wharf or out to pick berries. We shared ice cream as often as he could make it happen. So, in his honour, please go get a cone. He lived a full life, right to the end. He danced late into the night on his 90th birthday. He swam when he was 91. He was still winning Saturday morning crib games this May. He spent his final months under the roof his son built for him, surrounded by love. He was predeceased by his wife Piney, son Philip, grandson Christopher, son-in-law Mike, his parents, his siblings Maria, Clara, and Edward, sister-in-law Millie, and his “dance partners” after Nanny passed, Jessie and Caroline. We all had more time with Grampy than we ever deserved. He lived long enough not only to see his grandchildren grow up, but to truly know his great-grandchildren, who they were and who they were becoming. That was a gift for all of us. Doug leaves behind a large and loving family. His children, Nora and Brian, Sylvia, Daphne and Roy, Paulette and Brian, Hilda and Norm, Dulcie and George, Doug and Kelly, and Lawrence, carry forward his spirit, strength, and stubborn charm. His legacy continues through his grandchildren. Jody, Keri, Erin, Glenn, Angela, Katie, Michael, Roseline, Brent, Stephen, Caelin, Stephanie, Carter, Myles, Mitchell, Morgan, and Ashley, each one was known to him, each one felt special in his presence. He opened his arms, his heart, and his logs to each of their partners. And then, the great-grandchildren, so many of them, and so deeply cherished. Caroline, Olivia, Emma, Carter, Mara, Nicolas, Taylor, Brooke “Little River”, Nolan, Hannah, Nevaeh, Avah, Mya, Aubrey, Kaesen, Noah, Charlotte, Ivy, Nate, Daniel, Ava, Lily, Leo, Bella, Isla, Jack, and Mason. He knew them by heart, and he loved the two on the way, whom he hadn’t met yet. He is also survived by his sister, Nora Weston; his sister-in-law, Lillian Carter; and his brother-in-law, Vic Anderson. And, as ever, a wide web of cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and even great-great-nieces and nephews, spanning from Burgeo and Louisbourg to every coast around the world. In his final months, he was cared for with grace, humour, and love. To Kimmy: we don’t know what we would’ve done without you. Cremation has taken place, entrusted to the care of T.J. Tracey Cremation and Burial Specialists, 6 Churchill Drive, Sydney, NS, 902-539-7175. A celebration of life will be held at a later date, with private interment at Lakeside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Terry Fox Foundation or the St. John’s Anglican Church (Feeding the Need) in his memory. Your watch is over. It’s time to turn in. We’ll take it from here. Till we sail together again. To leave condolences, please visit www.tjtracey.com
Share Your Memory of
Captain Douglas