At Sunnybrook Veterans Centre in Toronto, Harley left this world to join his Lord and his loved ones gone on before, on May 1, 2021, at the age of 99 years. Grateful and loving husband of Lorna Elizabeth Reeds (2015). Loving father of Brian (Mary Brock) of Toronto, Maribeth (2010)
(Larry Kaufer) of Washington D.C., Miriam Page (Richard 2009)) of Scarborough and Madelyn of
Kingston. Will be sadly missed by grandchildren: Kirsten, Brendan, Andrew (Clancy Catelin), Laura (Jasper Chui), Alex, Fraser (Kasia Gladki), Hilary (Ben Grant) and Bronwyn (Jay Wall), and great grandchildren: Olive, River, Sasza, Ann, and one just arrived but as yet unnamed. Also survived by his brother Earl (Betty (2014)) of Harrow; Earl's children: Greg (Beth Kinnard) and Susan (Bill Litwin); Earl's grandchildren: Emily (Kody Stomp), Cameron, Nicole and Amanda, and great-grandchild Oakley.
Harley saw life as a series of challenges to be faced and overcome. After a childhood on the
farm roaming the shores of Lake Erie with his brother Earl and their Newfoundland dog, his interest in electronics led him to Toronto where he trained to become a maritime wireless operator. The shy country boy found the looming buildings of the big city overwhelming at first. Nevertheless he went on to join the Merchant Navy and became the radio operator on a Greek merchant ship carrying steel rails to Glasgow during WWII. After several narrow escapes on the North Atlantic, he arrived back home and later enjoyed a more luxurious position as radio operator on a Great Lakes passenger ship, the Hamonic. The remainder of the war found him working as a technician in Toronto, designing radar equipment for the armed forces.
His faith having been tested and proven on the North Atlantic, Harley attended services every
Sunday at Immanuel Baptist Church, after which he would go out for lunch with some friends he had made there. Occasionally the group was joined by a pretty young lady, a cousin of theirs from Lindsay. The friends moved on, but Lorna (for Lorna it was) and Harley kept up the tradition. The rest, as they say, is history. Harley described getting married to Lorna as a 'mountain top' experience. She was 'a woman whose quiet faith kept me climbing when life's slopes became steep and slippery'. They enjoyed 71 years together.
Although he never obtained a formal engineering degree, his skills and experience ultimately
led to positions as chief engineer at Hammond Manufacturing in Guelph and Audio Transformer in Waterloo, where he worked until he retired in 1983. He mentioned only recently that 15 transformers designed by him were in the Avro Arrow. If Harley's work consisted of the design of transformers, it could be said that his life was one of transformation as well. He demonstrated an unusual capacity for change and growth, especially in his later years. He was an active member of First Baptist Church in Guelph for five decades; teaching Sunday School and serving as a deacon. When the need to be closer to family brought Harley and Lorna back to Toronto, they began attending Woodbine Heights Baptist Church, where he was given a fresh, sometimes challenging, perspective on faith. As always, he was open to the challenge. When macular degeneration robbed him of sight, talking books provided new horizons. He was an avid
listener of anything from light-hearted personal stories to major works of theology. As he needed more help, he enjoyed meeting caregivers from all over the world. Exposed now to such a variety of influences, his world-view expanded and the warmth of his spirit shone through, enhanced by his unique brand of humour. When his daughter commented on the positive relationships he had with his caregivers at Sunnybrook, he replied, 'I love people'. He will be remembered for his warm heart, his generosity of spirit and his great conversational skills.
The family wishes to express their sincere thanks to all the staff at Sunnybrook Veterans Centre
for their excellent care over the past four years. Dad did say that, maybe, the terror of that trip across the German submarine-infested Atlantic was worth it to get into Sunnybrook.
Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to Woodbine Heights Baptist Church, 1171 Woodbine Avenue, East York, ON N4C 4E1.
Arrangements entrusted to GILCHRIST CHAPEL – McIntyre & Wilkie Funeral Home, One Delhi Street, Guelph, (519-824-0031). We invite you to leave your memories and donations online at: www.gilchristchapel.com and they will be forwarded to the family.