Percy Horace Leyte
Born In: North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed in: North Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: July 26th, 2010
We the family deeply regret to announce the passing of Percy Horace Leyte, our dear father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother, at home on Monday, July 26, 2010.
Born in North Sydney, Percy was the son of the late Walter and Margaret (MacDonald) Leyte.
He was a veteran of the Korean War, serving overseas with the Canadian Forces from 1951-53. He returned to North Sydney and worked with Angel Manufacturing and Supply Co. Ltd. for 35 years and was also employed by the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires for seven years.
Percy was a great sportsman, anyone who knew him could find him at the baseball field, the rink or doing a step or two at the dance hall. His coaching life was varied as he coached speed skating for 35 years, as well as ringette, women's softball (Percy's Pets) of whom he was very proud, T-ball and minor hockey, not to mention umpiring baseball, refereeing hockey and volunteering as a lap recorder for the speed skating competitions at the Jeux Canada Winter Games of 1987 held in Cape Breton. In all ballgames between the Yankees and the Reds, the Yankees never won against the Red but showed great sportsmanship at all games and always made it to the playoffs and felt like winners because of their great coach.
In Percy's later years he became a regular vendor at the Sydney Mall flea markets, where he would meet up with his longtime friends for a coffee and a chat, his day was brightened with everyone he came across. In 1997 the North Sydney Fairview Ballfield was renamed the Percy Leyte Ball Field, an accomplishment he was very proud of and also in May of 2008, he received the Allan Joseph Memorial Award from the Cape Breton Hall of Fame after more than 50 years of dedicated service. Percy was a member of St. Matthew Wesley United Church, North Sydney.
Percy is survived by his children, Danny (Patricia), North Sydney, Diane Penney, at home, and Donnie, Kitchener, Ont.; his brothers, Norm (Shirley), California, Lloyd (Ruth), Calgary, and sisters, Whillena Phalen, Sydney, Marg (Bud) McInnis, North Sydney, Olive (Bud) Atkinson Edmonton; and his longtime companion, Mary 'Phillie' Gaudet. Also left to mourn are his nine grandchildren, Danielle (Dale) Bonnar, Ottawa, Victor Leyte, Kitchener, Donnie Penney, at home, Nicholas Leyte, Kitchener, Katie Penney (Scott), North Sydney, Dana Leyte, North Sydney, Christie-Lee Heimple-Leyte, Daniel Heimpel-Leyte, Ronnie Leyte, all from Kitchener; and six great-grandchildren whom he loved dearly, Alex, Tyler and Owen, of North Sydney, Owen, Michael and Mia, of Kitchener; and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his wife, Shirley (Richardson) Leyte, two children in infancy, brothers, Charles, Clayton, Harry, Walter, George, Alf and Tiny and sisters, Louise, Edith, Irene, Margaret, Myrtle and Millie.
Visitation for Percy will be held from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday and 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Thursday in the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, 107 Pleasant St., North Sydney. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Friday at St. Matthew Wesley United Church, North Sydney, with Rev. David Luker officiating and burial to follow in Lakeside Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association and the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Nova Scotia.
Online condolences may be sent to info@wjdooley.com.
