We are deeply saddened to announce the death of John Clifford Ashley on
January 28, 2022, after a brief illness.
Cliff was the devoted husband and best friend of Betty (Elizabeth Mae Masters)
and the real-life hero of daughters Karen Ashley, Cathy Ashley (late Ross Leslie)
and son John Ashley and his wife Terri. He will be greatly missed by his
grandchildren Christopher Ashley (Deb), Kendra Ashley, and Lauren Leslie
(Andrew); great grandchildren JJ, Damion and Isabella, and many nieces and
nephews.
Cliff was born in Hillsburgh, Ontario on April 24,1931, to Robert Ashley of
Brisbane, Ontario and Hilda Walker Ashley, of Manchester, England. He grew up
with sisters Marjorie, Ruth, Margaret and brothers Walker and Gerald and
survived them all.
Cliff met Betty when they both worked at Baxter Labs in Acton, Ontario and the
two were married on July 8, 1950. When recently asked what he treasured most
in life, Cliff quipped “Betty”. This past summer, Cliff and his “most beautiful girl in
the world” celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary.
Cliff was hired by the Ford Motor Company, when it opened for production in
Oakville in 1952. He retired in 1983, at the age of 51, after more than 30 years of
service. The envy of many, Cliff and Betty achieved their goal of escaping to their
winter home in Florida for more than 36 years. They moved from Acton to Mount
Forest in 1984 and then to a condo in Fergus in 2016.
Cliff lived his life with purpose and quiet resolve. He was thoughtful, hard
working, deliberate and patient, a man who kept his word and earned respect by
showing it to others. Cliff took pride in being a handyman, and over the years he
finished many projects that showed his talent. He was Mr. Fix-it for the family. He
loved playing golf, fishing, gardening and was an avid Blue Jays fan. Though he
was a frugal shopper, always ‘looking for a bargain’, he was generous in many
other ways and always put others needs before his own. He had a devilish sense
of humour that friends and family cherished.
His battle with grave medical issues in the past few months showed his courage
to face life challenges with a smile. Despite the pain, Cliff stayed strong until the
end. We are so indebted to Dr. Garside, the doctors and nurses at Groves
Memorial Hospital in Fergus, the Wellington-Waterloo LHIN home care team and
friend Mary, who helped Cliff stay at home as long as possible.
A celebration of life and burial will take place in Acton this summer. In lieu of
flowers, donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or Canadian Cancer
Society would be appreciated.