Welcome
David was born in St. Stephen, New Brunswick and was placed in an orphanage with his sister around the age of three. His sister was eventually taken back by his mother, but he was adopted by Arthur and Louise Culley. The couple stepped in to help those living in foster care for several years and with this exposure he seasoned his abilities making those coming from a wide range of family situations feel loved and accepted.
He served with the Saint John Police Force for 34 years (retired in 2005) while his loving wife, Leta, of over four decades worked as a nurse in Obstetrics and Neonatal at two hospitals in the city. After he retired he enjoyed woodworking by building sleds, crafting cradles for his grandchildren, refurbishing doll houses and making charcuterie boards. He could be found at the Loch Lomond Road Tim Hortons several times a day after his routine 5am swim at the Aquatic Centre. Dave enjoyed his house and landscape he built in the late 1980s alongside his family with his two daughters and considered it his sanctuary. He otherwise enjoyed hunting and fishing when they owned a cabin in St. Martin’s at a point in time.
Dave was well known for his hobby farm that started by rehoming doves in the Lakewood subdivision of Saint John. His Sega grew into adopting rabbits, horses and goats. After that, chickens, geese and ducks began to roam around the property. During the 1990s, it was not uncommon for him to load up the open box of his truck with youth and small animals to go through the drive-thru at Tim Hortons. He also loved to drive his tractor with his homemade wagon to pick up the neighborhood children for hayrides. Dave was unfortunately diagnosed with stage four esophageal cancer in July of 2016 and was given six months to live. However, he stayed with us here on Earth for two years and passed away in his home with his wife by his side.
First Responders experience stressful encounters and Dave was a great representation of “stand-up” work who no doubt carried the weight of challenging situations over the course of his career. He loved people yet his personality held a composition that could calm and regulate others. Dave was respected for how he could talk to people. The Clinic recognizes David’s influence by how he accepted and welcomed youth as his own, how he navigated challenging situations in the community, and of course the smile that we deeply miss.
We wish to carry on elements of his Legacy at Valhalla Visions Counselling Clinic.
