Bernard Davenport

Bernard Joseph Davenport Sr., age 88, passed away peacefully on June 24, 2026, at the Grand Falls General Hospital, after a brief decline in health. Bernard married his love of life Anita (Dufour) Davenport on May 22nd, 1961, spending fifty married years until her passing in December of 2011.

Bernard leaves behind one brother Norman Poitras, of Prince George of BC. By is four children Bernard J Davenport Jr and Linda of Perth-Andover, Danny Davenport of Four Falls, Deann Titus and Tim of Perth-Andover, Diann Dee-Dobson and Sam of Washburn, ME. His eight grandchildren are Scott, Kyle, Jessie, Tia, Kaysha, Lauren,
Brayden, and Logan. And bonus four grandchildren Nick, Taylor, Chandler, and Casey. 13 Great grand children Zayne, Kohen, Benton, Jaxon, Cecilia, Lily, Johan, Noah, Ella, Jerimiah, Lane, Gavin, and Dixie.

Bernard is predeceased by his wife Anita, mother Marilla, brother Jonny, grandparents Ruth, and Judson.

Bernard Joseph Davenport Sr. (also known as Bernie, BJ, Uncle Bub’s, and “Poppy”) was born on February 15th, 1938, To the late Marella Davenport. Bernie grew up with
his mother at his grandparents, Jed, and Ruth Davenport, on their farm in California Settlement.

For all of you who knew BJ, knew that you would hear a new story in his presence... This is one of his stories shared, in his words, with one of his grandson’s.

BJ’s grandfather, Jed, made a living selling firewood for three dollars a cord. As a young boy Bernie would wait for him to come home and run out to meet him when he could hear the bells from the horses off in the distance. After a long day’s work Jed would sometimes take him on a trip to the “Condom House” Which was a house that straddled the U.S./Canada border and would sell alcohol to Americans during prohibition, and for Jed to get a stiff drink himself. On their way home, Jed would crack the top of his beverage of choice and sit back to relax, telling young Bernie to take hold of the reigns. Bernie, being around six years old at the time, was always proud to take the helm of the horse and buggy, only to later realize when he was older that the horses knew the trail well and would go back to the farm on their own without anyone needing to lead them, but in young Bernie’s mind he was every bit a cowboy as his grandfather was.

BJ always talked about how growing up with his grandparents seemed to always be an adventure. They hosted many gatherings where neighbors would bring their instruments and play with Jed who played the fiddle. This fostered BJ always enjoying a social gathering, no matter what the occasion, especially in his later years at the local lunch counters and watering holes. BJ was also a Proud lifetime member of the Perth- Andover Elks Lodge #362 and the Royal Canadian Legion #36.

BJ’s story continued… When Jed died, Bernie along with his grandmother and mother were offered to live and work with his aunt, Kathleen Wright, for a man by the name of John Brown, who was wealthy for the time and owned a large farm in the Settlement and had recently lost his own wife. John was a big man and did not get around too well. He owned one of the first vehicles Bernie could remember seeing in person, but later John would sell that when he could no longer physically drive. That did not stop John from going into Town and he would frequently take the public bus from Four Falls to Andover. When he did, Bernie would have to take John’s rocking chair and carry it down the long driveway to the end of the road, where John would then sit and rock while he waited for the bus to come by. Bernie would do this every day until John passed away, leaving his farm for Bernie’s grandmother and mother.

When Bernie got older, he would take that same bus into Town to work his after-school job as a clerk at Billy Campbell’s shoe store. In 1955, when Bernie was in grade 11, he was working his evening shift when he heard the gossip in Town of a big project happening in Beechwood and that they were looking to hire people for it. So, the next Wednesday, the day when Billy would close the store early, Bernie walked to the end of the old train bridge and stuck out his thumb looking to get a ride to Beechwood. He would find a ride with an older fellow by the name of Tom McCaan who said he was heading that way as well. After they made their acquaintances Tom told Bernie he was an engineer from Grand Falls and that he was hired onto the project, which would end up being the construction of the Beechwood Damn, and that he could help Bernie talk to the right people when he got there. Bernie would get hired on as a clerk for the project and stayed at the camp with the other men, working 12 hour days, seven days a week and impressed his superiors so much they wanted him to work for them on future projects as well.

During this time, he worked at Beechwood, Bernie only took time off on two occasions. Once when Aunt Kathleen called him at work to say his Great grandmother was in the hospital where she later passed away. Bernie’s uncle Neil, who was also working in Beechwood, leant him his car so he could drive over to see her. At this time Bernie was saving up all his money to buy his own car, a 1956 Ford Falcon. He had saved over $2,000.00 but the car was $3,200.00, but he was saving every penny he could to buy his dream car. However, it was also around this time that he learned the farmhouse that John had given his family when he passed had burnt down. That very weekend Bernie took off to see his grandmother. It was then that Bernie knew he could not just stand by and leave his grandmother to deal with the situation.

A brief time later, Bernie was driving down the Lane Road, where he saw a small house for sale. He stopped and asked the couple, Harold, and Kate Johnston, what they were asking for the place. He explained that their house had burnt and that he was hoping to find a place for his grandmother. They were asking for $1,900.00. He picked his grandmother up from where she was staying and took her to see the house. He watched her tear up when the Johnstons were showing her the place. It was then that Bernie turned to Harold and said he would take it. His grandmother looked at him and asked where he was going to find that kind of money and he told her he had it. He used all his savings that he was going to use to buy his dream car and bought his grandmother a home. She lived there for the rest of her life.

BJ’s early start at Beechwood would lead to a long and successful career, with Lorneville Mechanical for over 50 years. He had held multiple titles including journeyman ironworker, boilermaker, red seal boilermaker, foreman, general foreman and superintendent.

Following Bernard’s wishes; there will be no visitation, only a Family Graveside Service to follow at St. Mary of the Angels Cemetery.

For those who wish, memorial donations can be made to St. Mary of the Angels Cemetery Fund.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brunswick Funeral Home, Perth-Andover NB.