Beverly Vernon Ashby

ASHBY, Beverly Vernon

September 22, 1942 ~ February 24, 2020

Bev was born in the Township of Etwell to “Stevenson” Charles and “Lillian” Amy (Bombay) Ashby.  Bev had a rather large family, 5 brothers and 3 sisters.   He is predeceased by both parents, brothers; Harry, Don, Greg, Jack and sisters; Audrey, Shirley and Rhoda.  Left to mourn Bev is his beloved wife Linda (Peterkin) of 54 years and his three sons, Stephen (Heather), Jeff (Kerri) and Kevin (Michelle).  Bev also leaves behind 10 grandchildren; Darcie-Lynn Verhoeven (Jesse), Justin Lawrence (Ashby), Alyssa Ashby, Bradon Ashby (Emma), Zoei Ashby (Steve Smith), Jade Ashby, Ginny Ashby, Hailey Ashby, Teaghan Ashby (Tenecia), Keraghan Ashby as well as 6 great-grandchildren; Bryten, Keenen and Ryder Verhoeven, Octavia Brigsma, Cedar Lawrence and Braelynn Smith.  Also mourning Bev’s passing is his brother Charlie, many extended families and his faithful four-legged friend Buddy.

At the tender age of 16, Bev started work at George Cook Lumber.  In 1962 he would work for Muskoka Haying Co. He would work there for the next 47 years, although the company would change names several times.  Bev would retire from Tembec as a millwright at the age of 64.

Bev was a person who believed in getting involved in his community.  In his late teens, Bev joined the Huntsville Legion Pipe Band and would soon discover he had a God given talent as a bass drummer!  He could wow many crowds with his flare of twirling his drumsticks.  He would continue with the pipe band until his late 30’s.  Also, in his late 20’s along with his wife Linda, he would sit on the Executive Committee for the Huntsville Figure Skating Club.  During the 1980’s, Bev and Linda would discover they enjoyed the C.B. Club.  Along with the three boys, plowboy and city slicker would visit many coffee breaks.  The Ashby family have long enjoyed camping and fishing, which is a love they passed down to the grandchildren as well as the great grandkids.  In fact, baby Ginny joined the family camping trip at the ripe age of six weeks!  Bev and Linda instilled in their boys as well as the grandkids the joy of catching a fish and then releasing back to the water for another to experience the same thrill.

Bev and Linda settled in their family home on Elliott Street 50 years ago!  Everyone who knew the west end knew that on Halloween Mr. Ashby would have some great yard decorations and goodies to hand out.  Also, at Christmas, he would have the yard all decorated and on the roof was Santa, his sleigh and reindeer!  Bev really was enthusiastic about getting the most he could out of life while making great memories with the ones he loved.

Upon his retirement in 2009, Bev discovered another God given talent, making dream catchers and other handmade crafts from wood.  He would enter his creations in all our local fairs and did quite well.   Throughout his entire life Bev was an A1 gardener.  He would start all his plants from seed from the previous year’s harvest.  This process would start in February and as each plant grew, he would transplant it lovingly to a larger pot until it could finally be planted outside in his garden where all the bed boxes were made by his hands.  Bev also had a passion and tenderness for wildlife.  He would make up feed for birds, squirrels and raccoons, yes raccoons.  His garbage bags were never destroyed, they knew who fed them!

Eleven years ago, Bev received one of his greatest blessings, his four-legged pal, Buddy.  Everywhere Bev went there was Buddy.  Everyone who lives in a three-block radius of East Elliott Street knows Bev and his pal Buddy.  All the ladies would pet Buddy and give him treats, all the while picking Bev’s brain for gardening hints.

We have lost one heck of a guy, but Heaven gained one!  Bev you will always be sadly missed but lovingly remembered, until we meet again on those golden streets.

Cremation has already taken place as were Bev’s wishes.  A celebration of life will take place at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cancer Association or the Heart & Stroke Foundation.  Messages of condolence can be left at www.billingsleyfuneralhome.com