Tomlinson, Laurence “Laurie” Munroe

Brentwood, NS

December 30, 1946 - December 8, 2025

TOMLINSON, Laurence “Laurie” Munroe, 78 of Brentwood, Colchester County – It is with profound sadness, sorrow and heartbreak that I announce the passing of my father on December 8, 2025.

Born on December 30, 1946, to Lawrence and Thelma (Cameron) Tomlinson, at Minasville, Hants County, he was the youngest of four children.

Dad spoke of his younger years as one of family and moving around - a lot! His Dad worked in different areas and so the family moved considerably. He spoke fondly of extended family members always visiting and the good times that were had especially noting the Mumford and Tomlinson extended families. He spoke of enjoying his time the most with his family while his Dad was working on the St Lawrence Seaway project and the family resided in Morrisburg, Ontario, for a period of time. Dad liked to travel and at the age of 17, stayed with his sister, Carol, in California for a period of time. He had the notion of joining the American Air Force, however, he needed parental consent and Thelma was not going to allow that! By the time he arrived back in Nova Scotia, Thelma had him enrolled at vocational school for auto mechanics (like his dad) but not before, he received a letter of draft for the Vietnam War. Somehow, he had gotten on the radar of the draft while residing in California and his folks had to get him out of that situation!

Dad completed vocational school and also spent time at the Institute of Technology back in the early 1960s. He started at Goodspeeds in Truro and then went to the Fina station in Bible Hill owned by Glen Thompson. He then worked at various garages around Truro as Service Advisor then he and his brother-in-law, Mike Gill, went out on their own for a while. Dad was always handy when it came to automobiles and especially transmissions. He had a knack for building transmissions which resulted in him becoming known and getting work from as far away as the States and always did a lot of transmissions for race cars in the area over the years.

Dad also attained his private pilots’ license in the late 1960s and thereafter got his own airplane. Dad enjoyed flying and enjoyed taking people flying with him. He especially loved putting them in the front seat while he flew from the back for the ‘special effects’ of it. Speaking of flying, he actually had a plane crash in a buddy’s plane while they were flying in the early 1970s and thankfully, they both walked away to fly some more – Mom was not impressed however but they managed to not get divorced and he also got to keep his plane.

As noted, Dad liked to travel. He visited his nephew, Larry, in 1975, when he was living in Northern Manitoba but I do not think much sightseeing was happening but more beer drinking. While I was residing in Scotland, Dad came for a stay and we toured around Scotland and went to Northern France (briefly took a wrong turn and ended up in Luxembourg) as well. In 2016, he travelled to Alberta with me while I was taking a course out there and in 2018, we went to Morrisburg as he wanted to go back to the place he had fond memories of and our last ‘big’ trip together was in 2019 to Vermont where again, he tagged along while I was on a course. He would always drive the roads and find new places while I was in course.

Dad was a huge force in my life – in a good way. His advice in my early years were ‘take no sh!t from anyone’, ‘if you think you are going to get into a fight, punch first’ (“but please do not fight”) and “family first – support and help family when and if you can” - oh and “Elvis is the King”. Dad was an avid reader mainly westerns, the war and mystery. He enjoyed history and all things involving antique autos and airplanes. Many family trips involved dad saying the make, model of certain vehicles we would see on our travels and I find I do the same with my son now – though he now knows them all better than me.

Dad is from Hants County. The area is in his blood and his soul. He loved the land and was a steward of the land. One of his greatest accomplishments and enjoyments was the “Tomlinson Ranch” that has existed for 30 plus years. He would spend most weekends ‘down shore’ puttering, mowing, gardening and visiting friends and family. It will be difficult to not have him there but the legacy continues...

Dad is survived by me, his daughter, Janet Tomlinson, son-in-law, Stephen vanHerk and grandson, Kees Tomlinson vanHerk, who was his pride and joy and seems to be the next Tomlinson with great mechanical abilities. Dad is also survived by his nephews, Larry Wilson (Michele), Jackie Wilson (Anita) and Darren Bernard. He also is survived by nieces and nephews on his in-law side and a shout-out to his brother-in-law, Allen Gill aka ‘partner in crime’. Dad was predeceased by his wife, Judy; parents Lawrence and Thelma; sisters, Irene, Claudia and Carol and niece, Shawn Bernard.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Dad on December 16th, from 6-8PM in Colchester Community Funeral Home. If you know Dad well, you know he always wore plaid shirts so in the spirit of Dad and plaid, wear your best plaid. If you do not have plaid, you are still more than welcome to come!

Private family burial will be held at a later date.

“Take nothing but photographs,

Leave nothing but footprints,

Kill nothing but time."

– Mountaineer’s Creed

Tomlinson, Laurence “Laurie” Munroe