PORT HOWE, Cumberland Co. – Mr. Layton Ralston Hollis, age 96, of High-Crest Springhill Nursing Home, Springhill, Cumberland Co., N.S. and formerly of Port Howe, Cumberland Co., N.S., passed away peacefully in the nursing home on Monday, February 2, 2009. Born in Port Howe he was a son of the late Samuel W. and Elizabeth A. (Smith) Hollis. He was a member of Calvary United Church in Port Howe. He was a former member of the Acadia Masonic Lodge #13 A.F. and A.M. Pugwash and he had received his 50-year jewel. He was a member of the Sunrise Chapter Order of the Eastern Star #50, Pugwash until the time of its closure. He had been a former member of the Orange Lodge. As a young man he was employed as a lobster fisherman. During the time of World War II he was employed with The Canada Car Works in Amherst. Following this he was self-employed as a mechanic owning his own garage in Port Howe. Following this he was employed with the Department of Highways as a snowplow operator. Prior to his retirement he was employed with R.K. Chappell Limited in Amherst as a heavy equipment diesel mechanic. He was a devoted husband; father, grandfather and great-grandfather and he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved the outdoors, gardening, hunting and digging clams. He will be remembered for his dry sense of humour. Surviving are his children: L. Ralston “Lefty” Hollis of Halifax, Michael W. Hollis (Nancy) of Salt Springs, Pictou Co., N.S., Elsie C. Peterson (Don Boyce), Springhill, William S. Hollis (Barbara) of Lower Sackville, N.S. Also surviving are grandchildren: Donna, Debbie, Ronnie, Jillian, Crystal, Iain, Wade, Philip and Trevor. Also surviving are great-grandchildren Josh, Jessica, Jasmine, Jacob, Robert, Taylor, Emily, and Grady. Also surviving is a brother, Cecil Hollis of Hilden, Colchester Co., N.S. Also surviving are one niece and one nephew. He was predeceased by his wife of 68 years, the former Kathleen Ivy Chatfield, in 2007; also predeceased by a sister, Lucy Sanford, and a brother, Oakley Hollis, and by a brother, Courtney Hollis in infancy. Visitation will be held this afternoon and this evening with the funeral service on Thursday, February 5th, at 2 p.m. both in Allen’s Funeral Home, 60 Water St., Oxford, with Rev. Meggin King officiating. Interment will take place in the Port Howe Cemetery at a later date. Donations to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada (Atlantic Division) or to a charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated. Online condolences may be made to allenfuneralhome@eastlink.ca