Raymond Meikle
November 27, 1931 to October 12, 2017


It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the peaceful passing of Raymond Meikle at the Belvedere Care Centre on October 12, 2017.

Ray was the 7th child born to James Robert Meikle and Isabella Borthwick Mann Meikle in Coventry England on November 27, 1931.

Both of Raymond’s parents came from West Calder, near Edinburgh in Scotland, where Isabella was a maid, and James was a shale miner. In 1911 James moved to Coventry England to work in the coal mines and Issy soon followed and the first of their 7 children (Jim) was born in 1912.

Ray’s dad served his time as a gunner in WW1 and then worked at the Siddley Armstrong Car Works in Coventry. With a large family to feed and clothe, and the factory often closed with lay-offs, money was always tight. Ray, along with his brothers would spend their days playing footie and one of their favourite past times, building go-karts with scraps of wood and old pram wheels.

Coventry was heavily bombed during the Battle of Britain, but the family had a lucky escape when a bomb landed in the doorway of their house whilst they were sheltering under the stairs.

When he left school, Ray trained as a piano technician and although the war was over, all young men did their National Service and Ray was called up to do his two-year service.

Ray met and married June Rose in April 1955 and shortly after they immigrated to Canada to start their own family. Ray enjoyed a 50-year career as a Piano Technician and was a talented pianist in his own right.

Ray was passionate about classical music as well as the classic crooners. He loved everything golf, fine food and all animals.

Ray was predeceased by his wife June, in 1984, his sister Meg and brothers Ken, Don, Doug, Reg and Jim. He is survived by his son Stephen (Mary) and daughter Kim and grandfather to Melanie and many extended family members in England.

Ray lived a long life, enjoyed good times, particularly in these last years when he and Stephen had the fortune of spending a lot of time together and he had the chance to become close to both of his children.
To paraphrase Sinatra ‘he did it his way’.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to an animal shelter of your choice.