The Willow Tree Heritage Society is mourning the passing of a prominent former resident of Hant’s Harbour.

Clarence Snook passed away on Wednesday at the age of 99.

Snook served as the town’s postmaster and learned Morse code to become a telegrapher. He also served as an RCAF aircraft spotter during WWII.

He spoke with Dale Jarvis of Heritage NL in June of 2019.

He recalled the difficulties growing up in rural Newfoundland in the Depression era.

“It was very poor times then…there were lots of serious illnesses, of course TB was rampant then, and of course Hant’s Harbour didn’t escape many cases over there.”

He worked in the telecommunications industry for 44 years, retiring in 1989 as the manager of human resources with Terra Nova Tel.

He also authored a book on the history of Wesley United Church, titled; “The Journey Continues.”

A service of thanksgiving will be held from Barrett’s Memorial Chapel tomorrow at 2:00, with interment to follow at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in St. John’s.