Died at the age of 95 at Picton Hospice in peace. She was ever hopeful that she would be reunited with the love of her life Alastair “Big Al” Learmonth who predeceased her by 26 years. The youngest and only daughter of three children born to William and Mary Maxwell in Thornhill, Scotland, she was an athlete ( tennis, field hockey, sneaking out of dorm rooms) and always a comedic clown. If you knew our mother you knew she was Scottish, loved to yak, tell a joke  and always had some kind of treat or food for anyone who walked in her door. Married at 21 in Scotland she and Alastair came to Canada in 1952 to be instrumental in building what became the Tam O’ Shanter Golf and Country Club in what was then Agincourt Ontario. Libby ,a dietitian by training and Alastair ,trained in hotel management combined their talents to grow what was a rough golf course and pro shop into the powerhouse community hub it became. An 18 hole golf course,  the Heather Curling Club the largest curling  surface in North America at the time, a skating /hockey rink, pool, banquet halls, bowling alley and summer hockey school eventually rounded out the multi service club it became. A community club where everyone was welcome and everyone had a “Libby and Al” story. It was a huge accomplishment which they walked away from to try their hands at the Ivanhoe Curling Club in London Ontario. After several years there and a 5 year stint in St. Jerome Quebec they came to live in the old farmhouse on Long Point they had purchased in 1968. Libby went to work as the kitchen manager at “The Heights” and she loved the job and the people she worked with. Her sense of fun and madcap adventure lead to exploits with her beloved staff group such as the creation of “Molly the Giant Muffin” featured on a CBC radio interview. She was just chuffed at how much fun and team work she had in that kitchen. She loved that they gave her a nickname , Ez short for Esmeralda, and she adored them back.
The Long Point years were a halcyon time for Libby and Al. Adventures galore learning rudimentary plumbing, construction , hand digging a septic bed and why shore pumps have a mind of their own. They were deeply indebted to all their neighbours for help , advice and friendship. It became the weekend laugh to go down and see what the Learmonth’s were up to! Libby carried on for 26 years by herself in the little house they built missing our Dad every day. Her last ride off the Point to the hospice was symbolic with many of her near and dear neighbours just happening to be out to wave and witness her last ride. She was so tickled that the attendants on her transport were a willing audience to her stories and called her “ a pistol”. Thanks guys!
Libby is survived by her son Scott, her daughter Kandie and son in law Brian, her son Maxwell and her daughter in law Lydia and her one and only beloved grandson Marlon. Deep thanks and appreciation go to the many caregivers who were so wonderful over the years. Dr. G. Burke, Dana and April, always available and so loving, PSW’s extraordinaire Little Tanya, Dawn M and Kassandra ever present and kind, and nurses Dawn, Angel, Karen and David literally angels of mercy in her last days. And finally the remarkable staff at Hospice Picton who made sure she went gently and peacefully to the other side.
A private family ceremony will see Libby and Al sent off together as per their wishes on a Viking pyre at the farm.
If desired donations to Hospice Prince Edward would be appreciated by the family.