George Melbourne (Mell) Leiper
1928-2021
George Melbourne
(Mell) Leiper
Our family
announces with heavy hearts the peaceful passing of George Melbourne
(Mell) Leiper, age 93, of Greenwich, N.S., formerly of Halifax. He is
survived by his beloved wife (for 69 years!) Hazel; his daughter Donna
Cooper (Don), son Glenn (Cathy); five grandchildren: Christian,
Benjamin, Andy, Jill and Tim; 10 great-grandchildren, and several
nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by siblings Whitney and
Loretta.
Born June 28, 1928 to John and Myrtle (Kelly),
he grew up in Carsonville, N.B., and Sus, N.B. He met Hazel in 1951
in Halifax; they married on June 17, 1952, and raised their family in
Halifax before retiring to the Valley in
1979.
Mell was successful in two vocations. He sold
gazillions of appliances at Simpsons, and built numerous things like
decks, rooms, furniture pieces, steps, houses, and pools. But he had
many other loves: fishing, hunting, golfing, driving, travelling,
bridge, gardening, taking grandchildren on tractor rides, helping
those same grandkids cheat at board games, constantly buying those
very same grandkids ice cream cones, and telling lame jokes over and
over. (« You know the difference between a sore hand and a
sore thing? A sore hand is a sore thing, but a sore thing
isn’t necessarily a sore
hand. »)
And Mell never did dumb stuff, ever. Well,
except that one time when he applied chest cream that was actually
glue; or when he threw away a chocolate bar and began to eat the
wrapping; or when he reported to police his car stolen after he forgot
that he didn’t park in his usual work spot… Well,
okay, once in a while we had a chuckle.
But Mell was way more than what he did. His
value was in who he was. Mell loved to make people laugh, and he loved
people in general. He always saw the best in folks. Mell adored his
wife and was one half of an outstanding example of married life; he
prepared, worried about and loved his two children till his dying
breath, no matter how old they were; and Mell lit up whenever a
grandchild (or later great-grandchild) would arrive to play, swim or
be teased.
A special event for Mell was his 90th birthday
party in June, 2018, at which time he re-connected with so many
cherished friends, family and
colleagues.
Mell leaves his family with treasured memories,
and a brilliant legacy.
There will be no visitation by family request.
A private service will be
planned.
The family wishes to acknowledge the help and
kindness of the medical staff at the Valley Regional Hospital. Any
donations could be given to the hospital.
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19282021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de George Melbourne Mell Leiper 19282021..
Décès pour la Ville: Kentville, Province: Nova Scotia