Durham - A valiant warrior lost his final battle to cancer on April 23, 2019. Surrounded by family and friends, James Allison Leslie took his final breaths and left this world to start his next great adventure. Before his final surgery James shared the following thoughts of wisdom and encouragement for those he left behind: "I was never one for choosing the ‘right’ path. It was always boring, and never entertaining. I often found myself wondering, as I'd look at the less traveled route, what could go wrong there? These paths have led me to great and unexpected adventures. Through these adventures I have met unexpected people who now call friends, and friends I now call family. Of course, there are also the people I can't reference in polite terms, but those ones we block from our lives. These paths have helped me learn important lessons over the years. Never fear tomorrow, because tomorrow never comes. Fearing it is as pointless as fearing a picture hanging on the wall. It has no power over you. Deal with your today's. We always seem to be overwhelmed by todays. Every time you turn around some barista is trying to force you try a new type of coffee, don't feel pressured -- make a choice, you have the control. Today is your day of adventure and you should look for the most entertainment you can find. You have to work, but that doesn't mean you can't have fun. Turn it into an adventure with colleagues; meet new colleagues; try the new grill up the street, heck try the new coffee. Try something different, because everything different is an adventure. The more you adventure, the more you hear the stories of the people you meet, and that’s where entertainment begins. Though I leave behind my brother, my sister and my brother-in-law, my loving mother and father, I hope they have enjoyed my adventures. I hope my friends have enjoyed my adventures, and I hope they will fondly remembered with a pint at the bar with live music in the background. I don't go before you to leave you behind, I go before you to check the sound system, because musicians can be a lazy lot”. James was a frequent performer at open mics and leaves behind a large musical family. An avid D&D player, he was also a contributor to the book "An Introduction to Dragon Hearsay" and articles to Nerdarchy.com and Unmade Gaming. He leaves behind many co-adventurists including: his brother, Wally Leslie and his partner Ellen Masse; sister, Susanne Wagner and brother-in-law, Rob Wagner; his parents, Walter and Cheryl Leslie; niece, Jessica Leslie and nephew, Ryan Leslie; and his long-time friend, Kelly Persichino. He will be missed by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and those closest friends he considered his extended family. Visitation will be 2-4 & 7-9 PM today (Thursday) in McLaren Funeral Home, Pictou. Service will be 2:00 PM Friday from Durham Presbyterian Church. Family flowers only. Memorial donations may be made in his name to the Aberdeen Palliative Care Society or the Oncology Unit, Aberdeen Hospital, New Glasgow. www.mclarenfuneral.ca