Edward Leslie “Les” Ashton passed away April 19, 2026, peacefully at his home in Meaford at the age of 84.
Les was born July 29, 1941, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, to his late mother Edith Barkan and was raised in Montreal, Quebec alongside his late brother Gordon.
Les is survived by his beloved wife Sharon Ashton, whom he met in 1960 at a Halloween dance where they shared a ride home together. They married three years later on May 4, 1963. Les was a loving and dedicated father to his daughter Kelli Ashton-Brown (Stephen) and son Darrel Ashton.
Les was also a proud grandfather to his five grandchildren, Breanna Vermeersch (Brandon), Danielle Johnson (Scott), Dylan Ashton-Brown (Bailey), Alison Kuenzig, and Stephanie Kuenzig. He was also a cherished great-grandfather to six great-grandchildren, Klay and Hailey Vermeersch, Carter and Reagan Johnson, Dorothy Brown, and Ashlyn-Jade LeBrier.
Les served his country in the Canadian Army reserves, worked as machinist, and ran Brownie’s smoke shop in Thornbury for several years. Les was well known by his family and friends for his kind-hearted nature and was always ready with a good joke to make people laugh, and enjoyed fishing and golfing in his spare time.
Les will be greatly missed by his community, extended family, and many many friends. At the family’s request there will be no service.
As your expression of sympathy, donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated and may be made through the Ferguson Funeral Home, 48 Boucher St. E., Meaford, ON, N4L 1B9, to whom arrangements have been entrusted. www.fergusonfuneralhomes.ca
