Ernest James Walter Mayes

MAYES, Ernest (Ernie) James Walter – Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by the love of his family in his 91st year, on Friday, August 18th, 2017. Ernie was born on December 10th, 1926 in London, England to Ellen Elizabeth Maude Trickett and Ernest Hector Ludovic Mayes. In 1941, at the age of 14, he started his apprenticeship as a Tool & Die Maker to help support his widowed mother and younger brother Frank. One month after reaching the age of 18 he enlisted in the British Armed Forces where he became a paratrooper in the famed British 6th Airborne Division rising to the rank of sergeant. Ernie spent his last service years on a peacekeeping mission in Palestine. Upon returning to Britain, Ernie met and then married the love of his life Minnie Game, on June 4th, 1949. They immigrated to Canada together with their first 3 children in 1957 and added two more children to the family once they settled in Peterborough in 1960. Ernie spent much of his career in the tool room of Outboard Marine Corp. Ernie was very happy to be in Canada closer to his best friend and brother Frank and Frank's wife Vera. Together again, he and his brother shared many happy memories as they worked hard to create a good life for their families. Sadly, Frank and Vera have previously passed. Ernie experienced a full and varied life including being a champion boxer, ballroom dance instructor, track athlete and Peterborough Chess Club competitor, instructor and president. He was a very skilled craftsman working primarily with wood to make many beautiful items for his family. Ernie leaves behind his loving wife of 68 years, Minnie Mayes; their children Brian Mayes (Ann), John Mayes (Brenda), Gillian Best (Norm), Susan Bryen (Chris) and Alan Mayes (Elke); grandchildren Chris (Emily), Laura (Andry), Erynn (Matt), Graham (Natalie), Greg (Stephanie), Alicia (Cameron), Michael, Steven, Sean (Rebecca), Jennifer, Emily, and Matthew; great-grandchildren Elizabeth and Jonathan. He will also be remembered by nephews Ian and Wayne, niece Sandra and families and by his family in England, Australia and the United States. Ernie will continue to live within our hearts and memories forever.

As per his wishes, the family will celebrate Ernie's life privately. Arrangements entrusted to Community Alternative Funeral Home. Those who so desire may make memorial donations in memory of Ernie to the charity of their choice through: www.CommunityAlternative.ca. Thank you to CCAC for excellent home care. Thank you to the Palliative Care team, Laura our RPN and Dr. Matheson, for your visits to the family home. It is difficult to express the extent of gratitude that our family feels toward Palliative Care team members Doug, Amanda and Amy and all of the PSW's who cared for Ernie. You treated him with kindness, dignity and respect right until the end of his life which was so important to him and to the family. Also, thank you to family physician Dr. Gibson and his staff who cared for Ernie over the years.

We love him and will miss him.