Obituary of Howard LEARY

October 10, 1918 – October 14, 2011 Howard Leary, beloved husband of Athlyn Leary of Calgary, passed away on October 14, 2011 at the age of 93 years. Howard commenced his journey through life on October 10, 1918, in the family farm home, in the Ghost Pine Creek area, east of Three Hills, Alberta. He completed that adventurous journey on October 14, 2011 at Calgary when his Lord and Saviour called him home. He started school at the Lumni one roomed school in Ghost Pine Creek. But after four months, the family moved to Calgary where he continued with his education and graduated from C.C.I with a Senior Matric in 1937. Howard was also a graduate from the RCMP College in Regina and BSAM in Banff. After a short business course in 1938 at Mt. Royal College he was employed with a construction company as a payroll and cost accountant. He joined the Calgary Police Service in 1940 and always considered it a great privilege to have served the Calgary citizens for thirty-eight years, the last five as Deputy Chief of Field Operations. In retirement, Howard and Athlyn have spent many enjoyable years camping and hiking in the mountains. They also travelled thousands of kilometres in their motor homes throughout North America, and went on several cruises and trips to Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Howard was a founding and life member of the Calgary Police Veterans Association as well as a volunteer and Life Member of the Calgary Stampede. Left with happy memories are Athlyn, his loving wife and best buddy of thirty-eight years; his precious daughter Sandra (Dwight) Bettcher of Ontario; three much loved grandchildren, Talia, Glenn (Kim) and Michelle and six wonderful great-grandchildren, Brandon, Josh, Alexa, Alaynna, Sarah, and Shelby. He is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Myrtle Leary of Gorrie, ON and Evelyn Fells of Kamloops, B.C. as well as many nieces and nephews. Howard was predeceased by his first wife of thirty-two years Helen Mae (nee Asselstine) in 1972; father Wallace in 1958, mother Phoeba in 1981 and his brother Kenneth in 2010. Funeral Services will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S, Chapel of the Bells (2720 Centre Street North) on Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. The family wishes to thank all the staff of Unit 64, Foothills Medical Center for the exceptional and compassionate care and consideration shown to Howard and the family. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Mustard Seed Street Ministry, 102 – 11 Avenue S.E., Calgary, AB T2G 0X5 Telephone: (403) 269-1319, www.theseed.ca or the Diakonos Retreat Society, BVPO Box 20194, Calgary, Alberta T2P 4L2, Telephone: (403) 201-9945, www.diakonosretreat.com. In living memory of Howard Leary, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH Telephone: (403) 276-2296.