R. Wayne Sears

Raymond Wayne Sears was born in Toronto, and being the eldest of four children, he led the way for his younger siblings Vaughan, Lee and Joanne. In his early years, with the encouragement of his father’s comrade-in-arms, the family tried its hand at homesteading in Tomstown, Ontario; an experience that left an indelible impression on young Wayne. The family returned to Caledon East, before moving to Etobicoke after the passing of his father Raymond Sears in the early 60s. In Etobicoke, Wayne completed high school and technical college and began building the practical skills and strong work ethic that would define much of his life.

A natural with his hands, Wayne first became a welder and later a mechanic, eventually building a long and respected career repairing heavy machinery. In his younger years he loved motorcycles, adventure, and the open road. In 1970, he and a friend set out on a memorable road trip across Western Canada and the American Southwest in his 1959 Volkswagen Beetle — one of many stories that reflected his independent spirit and sense of adventure.

In 1972, he married the love of his life, Laurie Jean McLean, and together they built a life centered on family and hard work. After their long-postponed honeymoon out West, they began their family with the birth of their son Jeffrey in 1975. Over the years, the family lived in both Kitchener and Guelph while Wayne commuted to work near Pearson Airport in Toronto.

His career as a heavy equipment mechanic took him across Ontario, both in the shop and out in the field. He knew the province’s backroads better than most, answering calls when large machines were too badly broken for anyone else to handle. He carried countless stories from years spent repairing equipment in difficult, dangerous and challenging conditions. A highlight of his career was taking an assignment in the Northwest Territories during the rebuilding of the Defense Early Warning System.

In the early 1980s, he suffered a serious workplace accident that left him with severe burns on both arms, leaving him with scars that took many decades to fade. As the years went on, he transitioned from a focus on road service to spending more time in the shop and became increasingly involved in his union. By the end of his career, he served as a Union Steward and was widely respected as a wise, trusted mentor to younger workers. After decades of physically demanding work, Wayne took early retirement in his 50s.

In 2007, he and Laurie retired to McKellar, Ontario, where he embraced lake life fully — biking the cottage roads, kayaking local lakes, enjoying the outdoors, and splitting firewood for sale. In their newfound leisure, Laurie and Wayne also made several cross-country road trips from Newfoundland to Alberta to visit family. In 2013, Wayne suffered his first stroke but made a remarkable recovery and in 2017, they moved to Blairmore, Alberta, to be closer to their son, daughter-in-law Zoe and two grand kids, Silas and Madeleine. There, surrounded by the mountains he loved, Wayne continued kayaking on mountain lakes, took up riding an e-bike, and enjoyed quieter creative pursuits like knitting and wood carving.

Wayne will be remembered for his resilience, his skill and ingenuity, his stories from the road, his quiet mentorship, and the deep love he carried for his family. He lived a life marked by hard work, adventure, perseverance, and an enduring connection to the outdoors.

He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him.

 A private celebration of life will be held in Calgary on June 27th, 2026. Please email Jeff Sears at jeffrsears@icloud.com for details.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of R. Wayne Sears, please visit our Tree Store.