The last surviving member of the Newfoundland Ranger Force has passed away.

Cyril Goodyear, who was also a provincial court judge, author and former mayor of Deer Lake, was 99.

Goodyear, a native of Deer Lake, joined the Newfoundland Ranger Force in February of 1945 and served in Kilbride, Battle Harbour, Nain, Port aux Basques, St. Andrew’s and Gambo until he left the Rangers in 1950.

His career path included service with the Royal Canadian Air Force and he was a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

He later became a lawyer and was admitted to the Newfoundland Bar in 1977. Before retiring in 1989, he served as a judge and Chief Judge of the provincial court, he also served for a time in the provincial government as a Deputy Minister of Rural, Agricultural and Northern Affairs.

He was elected as mayor of Deer lake in 1997 and served the town until 2001. He also authored a number of books including The Road to Nowhere: Memories of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Against the Elements: Surviving in Newfoundland and Labrador’s Great Outdoors.