Murray John Ayton
Our Dad passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus, surrounded by his family, at the stroke of midnight, Nov. 5, 2012. Murray leaves behind his wife, Arleen, of 45 years, four children, and five grandchildren. Murray was the youngest of three boys born to Bill and Edith Ayton, May 15, 1934, in Brandon, Manitoba. After some pretty rough years, through the depression, on the Prairies, at the age of 7 years old, Murray’s family moved West to BC, to start a new life in the big city of Vancouver. Murray did not have great interest in school, so at age fifteen he dropped out and went to a trade school where he apprenticed as a baker. This would determine the majority of his working life. At seventeen years old the spirit of adventure caught Murray and he hitch-hiked across Canada, USA and Mexico for nearly one year. Upon his return in 1953 at nineteen years of age, Murray opened his first bakery with his parents in Vancouver and called it Murray’s Bakery. Due to its success, contractors made an offer he couldn’t refuse to open yet another bakery in Maple Ridge. In 1964 the second one was opened and also became successful. During this time Murray was taking ballroom dancing lessons and thus became known as the Dancing Baker. At the end of twelve successful years in Vancouver, Mr and Mrs Ayton sold the bakery and joined forces again with Murray in Maple Ridge. At around the same time a young, shy cake decorator named Arleen Ann Franson came to work for Murray. In 1967 she became his wife and business partner. The two built on the existing business and catered to the likes of Chief Dan George, and Margaret Sinclair. Besides a business they also built a home and a family together in Whonneck. After twenty-three years of bakery life and four kids later, Murray sold his second bakery and took some time off. His next endeavours included school bus driving and driving for the Herald E. Johnson Center. In 1981 tired of the rain, Murray and Arleen moved their family to Armstrong. After many more years of bakery life in the valley, Murray and Arleen once again left the business and ended up with their own Janitorial business. Due to health issues Murray retired at the age of sixty-five. He always enjoyed living in the country where it was much more peaceful and private. He loved all things country and western and watching westerns on TV. His favorite actor was John Wayne. In addition to his love for horses, he enjoyed boxing and dancing having participated in them in his younger years. He also loved collecting such as movies, recipes, books and bears. He loved adventure and would live vicariously through his kids’ travels. He will always be remembered for his grand stories and his loud belly laughs. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Nov 11, 2012 at 2:00pm at Alternatives Funeral & Cremation Services (2980 Smith Dr, Armstrong, BC). Expressions of sympathy may be forwarded to the family at www.MyAlternatives.ca.
Arrangements entrusted to
ALTERNATIVES FUNERAL & CREMATION SERVICES®
Armstrong 250-546-7237 & Vernon 250-558-0866