HAROLD LAYTON

1917 - 2012

Harold West Layton, beloved husband of the late Phyllis Layton, was called home on Saturday, March 3, 2012, six days after his 95th birthday.
Relatives and friends are invited to meet with the family at the Southland Funeral Chapel, 5006 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 between 7:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M. and at the church prior to the funeral service on Thursday, March 8, 2012 between 1:00 P.M. and 1:40 P.M.
The Funeral Service will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Taber Stake Centre, 4709 - 50 Avenue, Taber on Thursday, March 8, 2012 at 2:00 P.M. Burial to follow at the Taber Memorial Garden.
Harold taught that “In order to get somewhere in life you have to start walking.” Continuing in that tradition are his children Bob (Marg) Layton of Edmonton, Janice (Vern) Orr of Fort Macleod, Jennifer (Gordon) Evans of Coaldale, Valerie (Mike) LeBaron of Calgary, Ralph (Pat) Layton of Raymond, Kirk (Janet) Layton of Calgary, Kevin (Sandy) Layton of Lethbridge and more than fifty four grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Harold was predeceased by his wife Phyllis Layton (nee Savage), brothers Ralph (Verna) Layton, Cecil (Gladys) Layton and Orlin (Beryl) Layton; sisters Dorothy (George) Stalker, Hazel (Oliver) Payne, Viola (John) Hira and Irene (Max) Freed; two grandchildren Jonathan Layton and Emily Layton.
Born in Taber on February 26, 1917, Harold believed in hard work and self reliance. He freight hopped across Canada during the depression looking for work before joining the Canadian Armed Forces. He served with the Calgary Highlanders and Signal Corps in Holland, Belgium, France, Germany and England. While stationed in England, he met and married the love of his life, a cockney girl named Phyllis Savage.
After the war, Harold assisted in the construction of the Taber Sugar Factory. Then, buying a shovel to dig a basement and a hammer to pound nails, he took the discarded lumber from the factory and built a home which still stands in Taber.
He worked as a custodian at the Federal buildings in Taber and Calgary but often worked three jobs in order to raise a large family. He then became a small business owner and after his retirement, an auctioneer. Harold also bred and trained Old English Mastiffs and Bull Mastiffs both as guard and show dogs. He was awarded numerous ribbons and trophies for his work with the breeds.
Always willing to play a cribbage game and always bragging about his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, Harold was lively and alert for all of his ninety five years. He went home quietly on Saturday while surrounded by his children.