Obituary of Layton Sealy Fisher

FISHER, Layton Sealy

July 8, 1935 - Campbellton, New Brunswick

January 10, 2022 - Calgary, Alberta

Layton Sealy Fisher of Calgary, died peacefully in the presence of his children, Monday, January 10, 2022. He was 86 years old. 

Layton was born in Campbellton, NB on July 8, 1935.  He attended Moncton High School, and went on to attend Mount Allison University, graduating in 1957. He received his Mechanical Engineering degree from Nova Scotia Tech in Halifax. It was in Halifax that he met his wife Jean Alison Anthony in 1958 and they were married in Jean’s hometown of Yarmouth, NS in 1960. During these early years, Jean and Layton made so many lifelong friends and connections that no matter where they were in Canada or the world, their hearts were always in the Maritimes.

Layton joined Imperial Oil after graduation in their petroleum sales department. After brief postings to Kingston, North Bay and Sudbury, the Fishers settled in Toronto in 1967, by now with three young children. It was the Toronto years, where Layton honed his skills in the fields of human resources training and professional development. When he wasn’t either attending or conducting a training course, he was on his sailboat with his family for an overnight weekend on Toronto Island. He loved racing his boat ‘Tusket’ in the Wednesday night races with great friends at the National Yacht Club.

In 1982 Layton accepted a transfer to Calgary to work with Esso Resources. He retired in 1990 after 30 years with Imperial Oil. After Layton retired, he continued to consult and he and Jean spent a year working in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, travelling extensively through Asia.

Layton was a gregarious and personable individual with a great sense of humour. He could talk to anyone and was always so interested in their stories. He was not the type of person to engage in small talk, however. Talking with Layton might feel at times like an interview, then a lecture, and finally a pep talk. He had passionate feelings about many topics that he was happy to share with you. Don’t get him talking about sports! But after talking with Layton, you usually were left with something to think about. He always had questions for you, or a suggestion of another way to look at something. If there were to be a statue of Layton commissioned, it might be him standing at an easel with a Venn diagram or grid scrawled on it, marker in his hand.

This is the Layton that most will remember: a man with a passion for people, and for coaching and mentoring individuals and organizations. He could help people create a vision for themselves, and coach them in achieving that vision. He loved this work! Layton always said, ‘Do what you love, because this ain’t no dress rehearsal’. There was never a day that he didn't love to go to work and often expressed that he, ‘never felt he worked a day in his life.’  Layton was an avid reader and loved books of any kind. His extensive library included history, poetry, travel, the classics, biographies and no less than five dictionaries. He often had extra copies of his favorites and he would share them with his friends and visitors, if he thought a particular book might have a lesson or be of interest. Layton also loved hiking the Southern Alberta trails, listening to music, sketching, woodworking and motorcycling, and he even dabbled with guitar and ukulele for a time. 

In 2007, Layton couldn't fight the draw back East any longer and left Calgary, moving to Sackville, NB. Back to lifelong friends, family, and his beloved Mount Allison University. Layton’s love of Mount Allison, led him to establishing the Layton Fisher Internship in Philanthropy, sitting on the Alumni Board and being instrumental in establishing the Class of ‘57 Pratt Lectures.  He was a vibrant member of the Sackville community, supporting the local up and coming artists, and local small businesses.  He rarely left a business without purchasing a small piece of art, a book or a pair of socks. He was also an active member of the Tantramar Seniors College writing group where he began writing his memoirs.  During his years in Sackville, his relatives looked forward to his annual family reunion hosted at his cottage in Pointe Du Chene, with lobster and music for all, rain or shine.

Layton is survived by his children, Patricia Reeder (Bill) of Calgary, AB, John Fisher (Satoe) of Richland WA, and Alison Levorson (Greg) of Vernon, BC; and his five grandchildren, Andrew Reeder (Allison Scott), Sarah Reeder, Emma Levorson, Meredith Levorson and Kyoko Fisher. Layton was predeceased by his wife Jean Alison Fisher (nee Anthony), his father Aubrey Mayhew Fisher, mother Neva Fisher and his brother Gerald “Bud” Fisher.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed here. If family and friends so desire, the family requests that memorial tributes be made directly to The Layton Fisher Internship in Philanthropy or The Class of ‘57 Pratt Lectures at Mount Allison University.  www.mta.ca/donate.

In living memory of Layton Fisher, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.