John "Peter" Ayling

Passed away peacefully at the age of 78 in The Manor at Gravenhurst on March 17, 2022.

Predeceased by his parents, John and Molly Ayling.  He is survived by his sister, Julia McLean-Squires (Austin) his nieces Melanie Jane Craig (Mark) Laura Jane McLean (Jim), his grandnephews Joseph Dermot McMahon, Owen John McMahon, and grandniece Jenna
Sarah Craig.  He will be missed by his cousins both in Canada and in the US.

He was born in Toronto on May 25, 1943, and he spent his growing up years in St. Thomas Ontario. He graduated from Arthur Voaden Secondary.  He was a draftsman by trade and worked on a contract basis with various organizations across Canada. After high school he joined the Canadian Army for a short time. He was discharged due to medical reasons back in the 60s. He was very creative and used his talent and skills to build miniature schooners, ships, boxes, doll’s furniture for his nieces and created many pieces of stain glass. The family has many special handmade pieces of glass that he made over the years. He drove cancer patients to treatment in Toronto.  He volunteered to run the Salvation Army Christmas Kettles in Gravenhurst.  An active member of the Senior Citizens Centre where he was an avid pool and shuffleboard player and once an accomplished laser sailor in the Bala Sailing Club. He was a solid long-term member of AA.  He moved into the Manor at Gravenhurst in August last summer and was loved there by the staff who took such great care of him. He was known for his sense of humor and treated others with a warm and tender smile. There, he very much enjoyed the other residents and made many new friends. He was a crossword champion, avid reader and of course aways working on a puzzle.

Specials thanks and appreciation to the staff at the Manor for taking such good care of him over the past 7 months.  He loved it there, especially all the staff and residents that made his stay so warm and pleasant.

Also, special thank you to Dr. Gleason, Dr. Martin and the staff at the South Muskoka Hospital during his stay there a few weeks ago.

A celebration of his life will take place in Muskoka in the summer. Donations, if you wish, can be made to South Muskoka Hospital in Bracebridge.  He was a “gentle giant “and is at peace.