Leon Doty

Leon (Lon) Doty passed away at Dulcina Hospice in Calgary on October 18, 2015 at the age of 85 years. Lon was born and raised in Los Angeles, attended Loyola High School and graduated from Loyola University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He was a SoCal boy who rode the waves at Little Corona, dove for abalone at Dana Point, and raced for pink slips on Sunset Blvd. He married the girl next door and the love of his life, Nancy, on December 20, 1952 at Cathedral Chapel while hail pounded down on the tin roof. His business career started early in life selling newspapers as a boy on the corner of Hollywood & Vine and loading boxcars at the railroad yards as a teenager. His strong work ethic and natural way with people helped him to build a successful career in the potato chip business in the 1950's and 60's. In 1971, Lon and Nancy chose to go on a great adventure, moving their family from Whittier, California to Alberta where they owned and operated several businesses together, including Sunset Ranch in the Cochrane area, Storm Mountain Lodge in Banff National Park, and Pastels restaurants in Calgary. Whatever sort of work he was doing in industry or community, Lon was always willing to give of himself for the betterment of a larger cause as is evidenced by his participation in organizations including the Potato Chip Institute, Stockmen's Foundation, Western Stock Growers Association, Cochrane and Banff Chambers of Commerce and many others. When people remarked on how varied and winding his career path was, he was fond of saying that he'd always been in the food business. Lon always had time to help a friend in need and committed much of his energy to charitable endeavors, including Catholic Charities and Feed the Hungry in Calgary. He was devoted to his family and touched the lives of many people he encountered through the years. Lon will be lovingly remembered by his children Diane, John, Tim (Caryl), Steve (Debbie), Michael (Jennifer) and Mary Jane; twin brother John Leroy Doty, sister-in-law Geraldine Nigg, and cousin John Martin Tracy. He will also be greatly missed by his grandchildren John Jr. (Julia), Denlin (Jud), Simon, Ellen, Andrew, Dylan, Sarah, Ryan, Claire, and Brenden, and great-granddaughters Josephine and Carlen. He was predeceased by his wife Nancy Nigg Doty in February 2014 after 61 years of marriage, parents Ann Tracy and Leon Leroy Doty and brother-in-law C. Peter Nigg. Relatives and friends are invited to Prayers and Tributes at SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH (1307 - 14th Street South West, Calgary, Alberta, Canada) on Monday, October 26, 2015) at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary's Catholic Church (305 Squirrel St, Banff AB Canada) on Tuesday, October 27 at 11:00 a.m. Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to Feed the Hungry c/o RC Bishop of the Diocese of Calgary, 120 17 Ave SW, Calgary AB Canada T2S 2T2 or online at www.calgarydiocese.ca/feedthehungry/. The family would like to thank the many health care professionals who provided exceptional and compassionate care and support, especially Dr. Rodney Place, Lucinda, Lucy, Helen and Ariana from Classic LifeCare, the Alberta Health Services Home Care team and the staff at Dulcina Hospice. In living memory of Lon Doty, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Telephone: 1-800-661-1599.