Adrian Duncan Gras (14 May 1954 - 1 June 2026)

Adrian Duncan Gras was the great-great-grandson of John Culbert and Mary Ward.

In 1969 when he was 15 years old, Adrian set out on a six-year sailboat voyage with his parents and two of his siblings. Click here to read my post about the 50th anniversary of the voyage of the Merry Maiden.

The Gras family aboard the Merry Maiden upon their return in 1975. Left to right: Adrian, his brother Seaton, his father Ranny and his mother Ann. Sister Robn left the crew before their return.

Adrian died 1 June 2026, age 72. Click here to read the official obituary of Adrian Gras or continue reading as I have included it here with a few additions.

Adrian Gras Obituary:

Adrian Gras of Glenville, New York (formerly of Lincoln, Massachusetts; Pepperell, Massachusetts; Billerica, Massachusetts, and South Hero, Vermont)  finally jumped off this crazy train on June 1, 2026, at the age of 72. 

The man was known affectionately as “The Genius” and “That Guy Who Could Fix Anything.” He was born at home in Cambridge, Massachusetts and lived in one of the first solar houses in the country during his  childhood. 

At age 15 he was shanghaied on a voyage around the world with his family on their sailboat. The trip took 6 years; he sailed on and off for the rest of his life. 

He worked in various computer, construction, and agricultural capacities while building relationships with people who were to become his lifelong friends. 

When he was 37, his friend George’s sister Kate followed him home and she wound up keeping him for 35 years until his passing. While Kate was doing career and school stuff, Adrian stepped up to do absolutely everything else (including making her lunch every day and taking care of the dog) and helping out other family and friends whenever they called on him for something. Which was often. “What would Adrian do?” was an oft-used phrase among many households, as was “Don’t tell Adrian!” when somebody was performing a bubble gum fix instead of the correct one. 

Adrian and Kate spent their free time going to see live music, gunkholing around in a rowboat, being close with their friends and with her family, and visiting Cape Cod where they planned to retire together. 

Adrian had a moral compass that almost never wavered off of true north. He possessed the rare ability to accept people as they were, and not as he needed them to be. In his memory, please try to step up to do the right thing. If you find yourself doing otherwise, remember: “Adrian wouldn’t like that.” 

Besides his wife Kate and their feline menagerie, Adrian is survived by Kate's sisters Peggy (Rick), Charlotte (Malcolm), Amy (Jonathan), and Kate's brother Jerry (Laura). He loved his nephews and nieces very much. Adrian is also survived by his brothers Gerry Gras (Dana) and Seaton Gras (Candace) and his sister Robn Diekow (Gerhard). His parents predeceased him, as did his brother-in-law George, and his friends Nat, Ricky, Charlie, and Paula. 

Kate would like to acknowledge and express gratitude to the exceptional caregivers who assisted in his final months, Rosco Wilson and Heaven Luthers. Services may or may not be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to a charity that supports animals, human rights, or the environment, and then hoist a pint for him.

- end of obituary -

Adrian Duncan Gras' Family Tree:

Ancestors:

John Culbert & Mary Ward (great-great-grandparents)

Richard Culbert & Jane Eleanor Fairhall (great-grandparents)

Ethel Gertrude Culbert & Norman Scott Brien Gras (grandparents)

Ranulf Worcester "Ranny" Gras & Annette Elizabeth Peters (parents)

No Descendants.

Kate and Adrian

Samuel Robert Luker (1 Jul 1932 - 1 May 2026)

Samuel Robert "Sam" Luker was the great-great-grandson of John Culbert and Mary Ward. 

Sam Luker and his wife Melva (Murphy) Luker.

The following is Sam Luker's obituary, published in GuelphToday:

Samuel Robert Luker
1 Jul 1932 – 1 May 2026

Samuel Robert Luker passed away peacefully on Friday morning, two months shy of his 94th birthday, surrounded by the family he loved so deeply.

Born in London, Ontario, Sam lived a life defined by curiosity, intellect, compassion, and quiet adventure. He attended Western University, where he completed both his undergraduate and graduate studies in Psychology, earning the University’s Gold Medal for highest academic achievement in his field - an early reflection of the insight and dedication that would shape his lifelong work.

Sam’s career was both varied and meaningful. He was a teacher, Chief Psychologist with the Wellington County Board of Education, a professor at the University of Guelph, a Family Court mediator, and a psychologist in private practice. He was also a trailblazer in the field of human sexuality, approaching his work with openness, respect, and a deep belief in understanding others without judgment. At his core, he was a peacemaker - thoughtful, measured, and wise.

Beyond his professional life, Sam was an adventurer at heart. He travelled to all seven continents and visited 94 countries, embracing the world with wonder - from Antarctica to Zaire and countless places in between. He demeanour and all who knew him often said, a philosopher’s life: introspective, calm in demeanour, and guided by a steady sense of love and curiosity.

He will be remembered as an extraordinary husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. Sam was predeceased by his twin brother Richard and beloved wife of more than 65 years, Melva Murphy Luker, with whom he shared a deep and enduring partnership.

He leaves behind his daughters, Judy Massey (Dave) and Jana Luker (Robert Johnston). He was a proud and loving grandfather to Christopher and Brett Massey, great grandfather to Hudson & Lennox Massey and a deeply adored “Poppy” to Emma Luker (Jason Asnis) and Kai Luker (Greg Seraphim).

Sam’s presence was steady and comforting, his wisdom quietly offered, and his love deeply felt. He leaves behind a legacy of kindness, curiosity, and connection that will continue to ripple through the lives of all who knew him.

He will be profoundly missed.

Our family will gather to celebrate Sam’s life later this summer

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Melva Murphy Luker Camp Kitchikewana Endowment Fund or Hospice Muskoka.

- end of obituary - 

Twin brothers, Dick Luker (left) and Sam Luker (right) born July 1, 1932 in London, Ontario.

Please click here to read a biography of Sam Luker and his twin brother, Dick Luker, as written by Sam's daughter, Judith Luker Massey.

To read a biography of Sam Luker's mother, Gladys Sarah (Hodgins) Luker, click here. 

Note: If you were a student at Lucan Public School in Lucan, Ontario during the 1950s, you may remember Sam Luker as one of your teachers.

SAM LUKER'S FAMILY TREE:
Ancestors:
John Culbert & Mary Ward (great-great-grandparents)
Susan Culbert & Philip Crawley (great-grandparents)
Sarah Catherine Crawley & Samuel Hill Hodgins (grandparents)
Gladys Sarah Hodgins & Wilbert Luker (parents)

Descendants (Children):

Judith (Luker) Massey

Jana (Luker) Johnston

Elizabeth "Betty" (Carscallen) Marmura (21 Sep 1937 - 31 May 2026)

Elizabeth "Betty" (Carscallen) Marmura was the great-great-granddaughter of John Culbert and Mary Ward.

Several years ago, I asked Betty if she would write an autobiographical sketch for the Culbert Family History Blog. She laughed and replied, "One of these days my kids can send you a bio of me, when I am no longer around to read it!" Here follows her obituary from MacIsaac Funeral Home in Antigonish, Nova Scotia:

Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Susan Marmura (nee Carscallen), passed away on May 31, 2026 at St Martha’s Regional Hospital in Antigonish, Nova Scotia at age 88. She is predeceased by her parents, Charles and Muriel (nee Mills) Carscallen, her dear brother Peter Carscallen, and her beloved husband Michael Marmura. She is survived by her three children, Heather, Stephen (Bridget), and Timothy, and her four grandchildren, Simon, Phoebe (Jake), Hana (Pablo), and Allison (Max), as well as cousins, nieces and nephews.

Betty was born in Oshawa, Ontario on September 21, 1937. Her father was an engineer in the Canadian Army and so the family moved frequently. She spent her childhood and teenage years in Merrickville, Whitby, Ottawa, and Kingston, Ontario, as well as two years in Germany. Betty graduated from McGill University in 1960 with a BSc in Agriculture and followed this with an MA in Economics from the University of Toronto in 1962. It is there that she met her best friend and husband Michael. Together they raised their children on Douglas Crescent in Toronto. During these busy years, Betty returned to school studying at Emmanuel College, graduating with her Master of Divinity in 1982. She then served as a United Church minister at St Luke’s United Church in downtown Toronto.

Betty was involved with Canadian history and politics from the time she was a teenager and after moving to Antigonish in 2009 returned to that passion. She was particularly interested in the process of Canadian confederation and spent many happy hours in the provincial archives in Saint John and Fredericton. She was a voracious reader and never stopped learning, taking workshops in Truth and Reconciliation, courses in Maritime history at St. Francis Xavier University, as well as studying Arabic and Sign language in hopes of furthering her communication with Syrian newcomers and the young men at her son Tim’s home at L’Arche.

Apart from her keen intellect, she was a wise and thoughtful soul. Anyone who encountered Betty knew of her incredible integrity and her indomitable energy that she put toward those whom she cared about. She worked tirelessly for justice for Palestinians both as a clergy person and a citizen, even delivering a related address at the UN. She was a fierce advocate for those with intellectual disabilities celebrating and honouring their lives while working toward real and meaningful inclusion. She was a loving mother and grandmother. Her exceptional generosity went well beyond her family and extended to her friends, relatives, the community, and the natural world around her. Her spirit and love will remain with us always for as she wrote: “Love abides, it is all that abides and what more could we ask?”

We are grateful to all those who supported her care over the last few years. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to L’Arche Antigonish, Oxfam (For Oxfam donations please use this link and mention in memory of Elizabeth Marmura. http://secured.oxfam.ca/page/164200/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=website-redirect) or Doctors without Borders where they will be directed to relief for Gaza and the West Bank. (http://action.msf.ca/site/Donation2df_id=5640&mfc_pref=T&5640.donation=form1&s_locale=en_CA)

A private graveside ceremony took place June 2nd with burial in St. Paul’s/St. James cemetery, Antigonish. There will be a celebration of her life and reception on June 20, from 1-4 at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 59, 75 St. Ninian St. Antigonish, open to all. We look forward to sharing our thoughts and memories with those who can attend. If you cannot be there and would like to share a story, we will be happy to read those at the celebration. The microphone will be on starting at 2:00.

Celebration of Life

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Saturday, June 20, 2026

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 95

75 St. Ninian Street

Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada

 

- end of obituary - 

 

 

Betty Carscallen with her great-grandmother, Jane Eleanor (Fairhall) Culbert of Lucan, Ontario in 1937.

 

Betty Carscallen (left) and her brother Peter Carscallen (right) with their great-grandmother, Jane Eleanor (Fairhall) Culbert of Lucan, Ontario. 1940s.

 

BETTY (CARSCALLEN) MARMURA'S FAMILY TREE:

Ancestors: 

John Culbert & Mary Ward (great-great-grandparents)

Richard Culbert & Jane Fairhall (great-grandparents)

Hulda May Culbert & Charles Rupert Carscallen (grandparents)

Charles Newton Carscallen & Muriel Adelaide Mills (parents)

Descendants (Children):

Heather 

Stephen

Timothy 

You can read about Betty's father, Charles Newton Carscallen by clicking here. You can also read about her amazing grandparents, Hulda May Culbert and Rev. Charles Rupert Carscallen by clicking here.

Rebecca Ann (Culbert) Whiteford (1845-1940) - Update with Photograph

180 years ago today on 15 July 1845, Rebecca Ann Culbert was born on the Culbert homestead to parents John Culbert and Mary Ward in a log cabin near Lucan, Ontario, Canada. 

Rebecca Ann (Culbert) Whiteford (1845-1940)

For more information about Rebecca, click here to read a more detailed post I wrote about her on 15 July 2019. 

Until recently, I had only one small, blurry photo of Rebecca. This new photo (above) is from the personal collection of Rebecca's great-granddaughter, Anne (Routly) Willcox of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. Thanks to Anne's son, Scott Willcox for sending this photo to me.

Richard James "Dick" Luker (1932-2025)

Richard James "Dick" Luker was the great-great-grandson of John Culbert and Mary Ward.

Dick Luker died 30 March 2025 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, age 92. His niece, Judith Luker Massey wrote the following piece in his memory. Information for this piece was reviewed and provided by her father, Sam Luker (Dick Luker's brother.)

Dick Luker (left) and Sam Luker (right) born 1 July 1932 in London, Ontario, Canada.

 

Dad (Sam) and Uncle Dick were fraternal twins and they had a close bond. The twins were born July 1, 1932 in London, Ontario and were told by their mother, when they were young boys, that the Dominion Day parades and fireworks (later known as Canada Day) were really for their birthday.

Their mother Gladys (Hodgins) Luker did not realize that she was having twins. After Dick was born, the doctor said, “It is not over yet Gladys,” and Sam was born 11 minutes after. The twins often had friendly discussions about who was really the oldest. Sam almost died at birth from pneumonia and their mother Gladys said that Dick cried all the time Sam was in the hospital.

Dick and Sam's mother, Gladys (Hodgins) Luker (1894-1984). Gladys was the great-granddaughter of John Culbert & Mary Ward.

Sam and Dick skipped two grades and were placed into one of the first gifted classes in Ontario. They graduated high school when they were 15. They then went to London Normal School (a teachers college) and started teaching in one-room rural school houses not far from each other near Windsor.

Dick married Anne Taylor whom he met at Teacher’s College. Anne was from Windsor and so they settled down there, and Dick became a banker in Detroit, Michigan. Dick eventually became a vice-president.

Sam went to Western University in London (formerly the University of Western Ontario,) and after completing grad school, Sam became a clinical psychologist and then a professor of Family Studies at the University of Guelph. Sam married Melva Murphy from Midland, Ontario who worked as a nurse and supported him while he went to university. A scholarship and Melva’s nursing kept the young couple solvent.

Sam and Dick both liked to travel. Sam has calculated that he and Melva visited 95 different countries.

The two brothers also both enjoyed music. Sam liked pop standards and classical music while Dick had extensive knowledge and a collection of Dixieland Jazz. Dick was often contacted by radio stations and other groups to share information and borrow a record from his very large Dixieland record collection.

Both twins were bright, articulate and had happy childhoods and marriages. Although Dick lived in Windsor and Sam in Guelph, they remained close. With children and busy careers, they were not able to see each other as much as they wished. However, when they were able to get together, they talked nonstop and always had lots to share.

Dick’s death on March 30, 2025 was a blow to Sam. Dick had been calling out for Sam. Although Dick was lying down and not responsive, when he heard Sam’s voice on the phone, he opened his eyes and smiled. This was the last time the twins had an opportunity to connect before Dick died. 

- End -

To read more about Dick Luker and his brother, Sam, and to see additonal photographs, let's return to a previous post on the Culbert Family History blog. Click here to read about Dick and his twin brother, Sam Luker. Dick's obituary can be found here.

DICK LUKER's FAMILY TREE:
Ancestors:
John Culbert & Mary Ward (great-great-grandparents)
Susan Culbert & Philip Crawley (great-grandparents)
Sarah Catherine Crawley & Samuel Hill Hodgins (grandparents)
Gladys Sarah Hodgins & Wilbert Luker (parents) 

Descendants (Children): 

Leslie (Luker) Agnew

Tim Luker 

Remembrance Day Through the Eyes of a Child

Milward Taylor "Mel" Culbert (1920-1958)

My father, Mel Culbert of Lucan, Ontario served as a Sergeant with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) from 1941-1945. He trained as a radar technician and wireless air gunner. He retrained as a draftsman because of health problems, and transferred from the training base at Trenton to a base on Avenue Road in Toronto. 

Mel and his wife Mary Elizabeth (Patrick) Culbert had three children: son Terry, daughter Dana, and daughter Mary Jane (me.) Sadly, my father died when I was a year old. I have no memory of him.

When I was a child, I had a Remembrance Day school assignment. This is the last paragraph of that assignment...

Click on image to enlarge.

Mel Culbert in his RCAF uniform.

Remembrance Day is a time for us to reflect on those who served our country. We will remember them.