Car crash victims identified

The two victims of a fatal head-on car crash last week are being remembered for their dedication to their families and their community involvement.

Scott Dawson, 53, of Hampton and Melissa Lank, 44, of New Haven were the victims of Thursday’s crash in Central Bedeque.

Dawson was well-known in his home community for volunteerism as well as in western P.E.I. for his 25-year role as the general manager of HI Construction, which was owned by his father Barry.

However, Dawson was most devoted to his family, which included his wife, Rosalie, and their six children.

“He was a great husband and a great business person, but No. 1 he was a great dad and family man,” said Rosalie.

With all of their six children being heavily involved in athletics, Rosalie said there were few evenings and weekends that didn’t involve travelling to watch one of their kids’ sporting events.

“But he loved it, his favourite thing to do was to hang out with the kids and take them somewhere,” she said. “That was his favourite place to be.”

Dawson was a former president of P.E.I. Road Builders and served as a member of its executive and on various committees for years.

Robert Duffy, a fellow former president who served on the Road Builders executive with Dawson, described him as a “kind-hearted man” who played a pivotal role in the province’s paving industry.

“Scott was a great guy and he employed a lot of people,” said Duffy.

Dawson was also the owneroperator of DTR Recycling Inc. before working as a business consultant for the past couple of years.

Known as a community builder with a great sense of humour, Dawson was serving as president of the Crapaud Community Hall and was dedicated to running a Chase the Ace fundraiser in the community during the past year.

He was also past president for the South Shore Actiplex, South Shore Minor Hockey Association, South Shore Chamber of Commerce and Atlantic Chamber of Commerce.

He also served as the past president of the Association of Rural Community Halls and past director of the Community Business Development Corporation in Summerside.

Because of his community involvement, Dawson’s obituary states that donations would be accepted to the Crapaud Community Hall or a charity of choice.

Lank, a physiotherapist at Prince County Hospital, is also being remembered for her love of her family, which included husband, Trevor, and four children.

Lank’s obituary described a woman who spent every day focusing on making the most out of life with her family.

“Melissa would not want us to focus on the sadness of her loss,” states the obituary.

“Between being active in her church, running four children to hockey and various sports, camping, skiing and just coming up with crazy family excursions, her life was full. She loved everyone deeply and was deeply loved.”

Lank’s obituary states that because of her love for others, donations can be made to the Burnside African Mission or the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Lank’s funeral service is being held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Burnside Presbyterian Church.

Dawson’s funeral mass is being held 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Francis of Assisi in Cornwall.