LEY, Albert Leyton “Lee”
of Angus, ON, passed away peacefully at
Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie,
on Friday, September 30th 2022 at the age of 75.
Lee was a loving partner, caring companion, and forever best friend,
(sharing his life for over 31 years) of Wendy (Giles) Harry.
Lee leaves behind his daughter Crystal Ley and extended family
DeJai Giles, Micki Giles, John Harry and his wife Niki.
Cherished “Poppa Lee” to granddaughter Kandace Harry (deceased)
and her husband Donnie Musgrove, and their children Savana,
Barbara, Harley and Hunter of Victoria, BC.
Loved “Poppa Lee” of Tehra Harry and her husband McKenzie Dougall,
and their children Edyn, Nathanial and Loren of Vancouver, BC.
Brother to the late Robert (Susan) of Florida, Steven (Suzanne) of Barrie,
Grant (Sherri) of Thessalon, Nancy Dickey (Stewart) of Shanty Bay,
and James (Jeannie) of Oregon.
Predeceased by his parents Doreen Keast and Robert Ley and infant sister Deanna Rose.
Lee will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by his uncles, aunts,
nephews, nieces, great nephews and nieces and many friends.
“Let’s go for a walk Buddy” faithful companion “Scamp” will miss his daily walks with Lee.
Lee and High School did not get along. He completed Grade Nine but did not return for Grade 10. He worked at different jobs including the amusement park at Wasaga Beach for two summers. He decided to enlist in the RCAF at a young age which required his parent’s permission. His basic training was at St. Hubert, PQ with his first posting to CFB Comox, BC. He often talked about his train travel across Canada wearing his full-dress uniform including his winter topcoat. He was a raw recruit and followed his instructor’s orders to not take his uniform off for any reason as he was representing Canada. He laughed remembering several times being very hot in his uniform, especially travelling across the prairies and British Columbia, but he followed those orders while knowing his instructor probably forgot about the temperature differences. He arrived in CFB Comox to bunk down in a large hanger that held his 441 Squadron’s fighter jets and billeted pilots. He became a “Hangar Line Cook” feeding the airmen whenever it was required or necessary as they were on 24-hour call and could be scrambled anytime due to the Cold War. When the Airforce, Army and Navy became one military, the Hangar Line Cook position was abolished. When his contract was up, he was offered the Infantry, however wanted to pursue his cooking career. He left the Military with an “Honourable Discharge” and enrolled in George Brown College in Toronto in 1971. His military basic food training was a bonus and he graduated from George Brown with his Chef’s papers. During this time, he also worked “On Job Training (OJT) at several Barrie dining restaurants such as “The Continental Inn” and “The Bayshore Motor Hotel” to obtain the hours needed to write final papers to obtain his “Red Seal” He nervously wrote and passed his exam to be informed he had obtained the highest exam marks in his class. He had completed some of his career goals with his certified Chef’s papers showing the extra accomplishment of the “Red Seal”. Now he could work anywhere in the world. He applied and was successful for an Executive Chef position at “The Lord Nelson Hotel,” Halifax, NS. After several years, he decided to return to Ontario. He had married before leaving Ontario and now welcomed his baby daughter. Back in Barrie again, he decided to take a break from his trade and purchased a share in a well-established taxi business in town. From Barrie, he moved to Angus and drove for Reliable Taxi. While driving, he enrolled in Georgian College in Barrie taking the Hotel, Motel Management Course plus went on to complete his Grade 12 education. He felt he had finally completed his whole career when receiving his Grade 12 diploma. He decided to take up his trade once again and worked at several restaurants in Barrie as a Chef and at “The Nottawasaga Inn”, Alliston as an Executive Sous Chef. However, he came full circle being the happiest and once again feeling he had come home where he was needed the most, by working in several mess hall kitchens at CFB Borden during the last 16 years of his career. He enjoyed his time working with kitchen staff and always looked forward to going to work and coming home to tell his family and friends how many hungry men and women the kitchen had fed that day. Whenever he was asked what he did in his job, Lee always proudly said “I feed the troops”.
At Lee’s and the family’s request, cremation has taken place.
Friends may visit with the family at the Steven R. Bridge Funeral Home,
207 Mill Street Angus, on Saturday, October 15th 2022
from 11:00am until the time of the funeral service at 1:00pm.
All are welcome to attend the live stream of Lee’s service
by visiting funeraweb.tv/diffusions/62015
Lee will be laid to rest beside his parents, in the family plot,
at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto, ON
As expression of sympathy, donations to
The Kidney Foundation
would be appreciated by the family.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Albert Leyton Lee Ley 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Angus, Province: Ontario