Obituary of Leigh Myers Walton

It is with great sadness that we announce that Leigh Myers Walton passed away peacefully at 88. He is now reunited with Grace, his wife of 66 years.  

 

Leigh was the guy at the beach hoping that a storm might blow in. It was nothing against the swimmers and sunbathers. It’s just that he loved to be on Lake Windermere in his sailboat … and the stronger the wind, the better, even if everyone else was scrambling to shelter.  

 

Leigh was born in New Brunswick and raised on a farm in DeSable, P.E.I. He studied accounting in Saint John, N.B., where he met Grace. Soon, they were a family of five, with no extra seats available for a cross-country road-trip that would provide laughs for years to come. Leigh’s first career was with Royal Trust, which brought his transfer to Calgary. He later worked as a commercial realtor, primarily with Toole & Cote.  

 

B.C.’s Columbia Valley became a favourite weekend hangout and, ultimately, home. He and Grace retired to Akiskinook and then Timber Ridge, where they were oftentimes entertaining a houseful of loved ones and friends. In the summer, Leigh’s short game was the envy of every other golfer in the family. As soon as it snowed, he swapped to his skis, a passion he shared as a mountain friend at Panorama. He was handy and resourceful — he built his first sailboat and, yes, it did float — and appreciated a bargain, or better yet a freebie from the take-it-or-leave-it shed. He loved unique cars, gadgets, music, loved to travel by cruise ship and loved a good conversation, whether that was hearing a story or sharing one of his own. And if it started to gust, Leigh was always looking for company for a sail. We will be thinking of him whenever the wind whips up.  

 

Leigh was pre-deceased by Grace, who passed away in September, and also by his parents Laura and Borden, brother Howard, brother-in-law Harvey MacEwen and son Geoffrey. He is survived by his sisters Bertha (Forbie) Taylor and Margaret MacEwen, sister-in-law Judy, daughter Marcia Gilbertson, son Ian (Nancy), grandchildren Wes (Cassandra), Kendra (Mat), Amy, Courtney and Emma and great granddaughter Élodie.  

Leigh’s family wishes to extend a special thank-you to the staff at Columbia Garden Village and Ivy House for their compassion and care.