The passing of Allison Winston DeLong, of Hartland and Davidson Lake, New Brunswick, occurred on April 14, 2014 at the Saint John Regional Hospital.

The son of the late Borden and Ruth, Allison was born December 4, 1940.  He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Margo Jean DeLong (Orser), and his sons Mark (Shelly), Christopher (Manon) and Aaron. "Gramps" will be missed by his grandchildren Alexander, Benjamin and Elise.  He is also survived by his siblings Maxwell, Malcolm, Judson, Avis, Iris, Ruth, Harold and Wayne. He was predeceased by his sister Barbara.

Growing up in a family of ten children, Allison learned the value of a hard days' work. He translated that work ethic into a varied and interesting working life.  After graduating from Teachers College in 1958, he taught in Montreal, Quebec in 1959.  He returned to New Brunswick in 1960 and, with friend Ernest McLean, entered the construction business, operating M&D Construction.

After marrying Margo in 1962, Allison went to the University of New Brunswick, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree. He later added a Bachelor of Education, earned through summer school and night courses. However, not having worked the construction bug entirely out of his system, he returned to the field from 1965 to 1968, undertaking projects throughout the province.  In 1969 he assumed a teaching position at Hartland High School, eventually becoming vice principal.  Despite the vice principal's role of enforcing discipline on unruly high school students, his positive impact on students is reinforced by the kind words of his former pupils.

In 1977, after spending the previous summer in Fredericton learning how to build swimming pools,  and seeing an opportunity to pass his love of hard work on to his children, who were then ages 8, 11 and 14, Allison started a swimming pool company. For many summers after, he and his sons, along with numerous young men from the Hartland area, enjoyed hard labor at the bottom of a deep hole.

In 1987, feeling he could make a positive contribution; Allison sought and won the Liberal nomination for Carleton Centre.  Running two successful campaigns,  he was a member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick until 1995, when he retired.

Allison always gave back to his community. From becoming involved in the Hartland Recreation Council, to coaching hockey, to volunteering hundreds of hours during the construction of Covered Bridge Golf Course (despite never going through the frustration of a round of golf in his life), he gave his time freely and with enthusiasm.

After retirement, Allison didn't sit in a rocking chair. He and Margo did two tours of North America by motor home.  Allison made sure they were on the road early every day by not changing the time zone on his watch!

In the late 1990s, Allison and Margo bought a small, dilapidated property at Davidson Lake. They renovated it and decided that they enjoyed the lifestyle. They bought a larger piece of property and Allison spent the next few years as general contractor and carpenter building a retirement home.

Later, Allison decided that he wanted to see Europe. When his son Mark offhandedly commented that he was welcome to join Mark and his wife in France in 2008 during a house exchange they had planned,  he surprised them by packing a bag and showing up to spend a couple of weeks.  He returned to enthusiastically recount stories of his time in Paris and his visit to Vimy Ridge and other war memorials, which he had only previously seen on one of his favourite television stations, the Military Channel.

Feeling the urge to see more of the world, in 2012 Allison decided to tour England, Ireland and Scotland. Unable to convince their wives to go along for the journey, he and Paul Schriver did a driving tour of those countries. Paul took the wheel and Allison assumed the role of amateur videographer, often with hilarious results for those later viewing his creations.

Family and friends were more important to Allison than any asset money could buy.  The family home in Hartland was the site of many impromptu summer time pool parties, where anyone who wanted to come could show up with nothing more to worry about than having fun, with Allison and Margo making sure they were fed and watered.  The same open door policy was in place at Davidson Lake.

Allison became a friend and mentor of many neighbours, as he was always willing to share a story, help out with their projects or lend them tools, as long as they promised to return them!  He also loved to teach children useful skills such as how to water ski, build a fire in the woods and drive his pickup, whether it was his own children and grandchildren or those of his friends and neighbours.

While he valued and promoted getting an education and working hard, Allison never directed his children to do their homework or take up a certain profession.  There was no need, since his example of how to live life was all that was needed to show the way to achieve true happiness.

Allison was always able to see the positive where others might not. Just before undergoing surgery on March 17, he commented to the assembled family, in his lighthearted way, "Well, I've had 73 great years". Boy, did he get that right.  He will be missed by all of his human and animal friends.

Visitation will be held at The Carleton Funeral Home & Crematorium 337 Lockhart Mill Road Jacksonville on Thursday, April 17 from 1 PM to 3 PM. A memorial service will be held at 3 PM from The Carleton Funeral Home Chapel.

Donations may be made in Allison's memory to the Fredericton SPCA or Ca-R-Ma Fredericton.

Fredericton SPCA shelter

165 Hilton Road

Fredericton, NB

E3B 4Y9

http://www.frederictonspca.ca

Ca-R-Ma Fredericton

P.O. Box 30078

Fredericton NB

E3B 0H8

http://www.ca-r-ma.org/fredericton