Michael Ward Carson Obituary

Michael Ward Carson, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully in Halifax on August 1, 2025, after a courageous and grace-filled journey with prostate cancer. He was 82.
Ward lived a life defined by kindness, quiet integrity, sharp wit, and a deep appreciation for life’s absurdities. Diagnosed with cancer more than 20 years ago, he faced each stage of his illness with remarkable courage, humour, and gratitude, often saying he was “the luckiest man on Earth.”
Ward cherished life’s quiet pleasures - living by a strong sense of fairness, savouring a good scotch, and, above all, being truly present with the people he loved.
Ward was the loving husband of Hetty van Gurp, with whom he shared a life rich in laughter, shared causes, travel, and storytelling. He was an intensely proud and loving father to his daughters Rachel, “my favourite oldest daughter,” and Becca, “my favourite youngest daughter,” from his earlier marriage to Susie Carson. He had a deep, joyful love for his stepson, Joe, whom he affectionately called “the best son I never had.” He welcomed Joe and his wife, Brittany, into his life with wholehearted love and open arms.
He delighted in his grandchildren - Oliver and Ben (Rachel), Silas, Judah, and Felix (Becca), and Gabriel, Oliver, and Elliot (Joe and Brittany).
Born in 1942, he was the only son of Lillian Carson (Blugerman) and Henry (Hank) Carson. Raised by Lil and her close-knit family and community. Special bonds among cousins and friends (especially Trudy, Esther and Sharon) were forged during summers at Camp Naivelt. His commitment to community and justice was developed and nurtured through his family and camp experiences.
Ward was a chartered accountant. He credited completion of this certification to his mentor and uncle, Al Blugerman. He spent much of his career at the Canada Revenue Agency, where his calm demeanor, intelligence, and gentle humour made him a respected and trusted colleague. He dug into challenging systems problems, always seeking justice and elegant solutions.
Outside of work, he always loved cars, motorcycles, and planes. He famously passed his driving test days after his 16th birthday, puzzling the adjudicator how he managed to be an accomplished driver with only a few hours of legal driving under his belt. He got his private pilot’s licence and, to his end, loved talking about planes.
He had a remarkable ability to fix almost anything with a few pieces of wire, old fasteners, deck screws, and sheer intuition, often punctuated with a triumphant, “Hot damn!”
He was a dedicated volunteer treasurer for three Canadian charities - quiet acts of service that reflected his steady commitment to community and doing good without fanfare.
A natural entertainer, Ward brought laughter everywhere he went, with an unforgettable cast of characters including Heidi, the tragically uncoordinated Russian synchronized swimmer, and Father O’Malley, whose Irish brogue grew thicker with every telling. He had an uncanny recall of movie lines, and his humour was legendary: sharp but gentle, mischievous but never unkind.
He was a trusted confidante to many who could be relied on to give a problem his attention and thoughtful advice.
Ward leaves behind an extended family spread across the country and around the world, including his siblings, in-laws, cousins, nieces, and nephews (to whom he was known as uncle Weird), and beloved lifelong friends. His legacy is warmth, wisdom, and quiet generosity.
At his request, there will be no memorial service. Instead, please share a good joke in his honour and raise a toast of Scotch to a life well lived. Donations in his memory may be made to Hospice Halifax