index.php/Captain Harrison Layton
Captain, B.C.C.P.
December 20, 1935 – December 9, 2023
It is with great sadness we wish to announce the passing of Captain Harrison Layton at 87 years of age. Harrison is survived by his loving and much adored wife of 66 years, Joan, and their daughters, Lanita, Larina and Nerissa, of whom he was very proud. Harrison was born in Rock Bay, BC and grew up in the wilds of the BC coast. He was raised in a cabin on a log raft that was poled up and down the coast for work for the family and through these times developed his love of the sea and nature. Harrison led a rich and colourful life. He was a cowboy at the age of 18 in Northern BC and in later years became a Senior Cutting Horse champion. He was a hard worker and always interested in trying new things, hence becoming a logger, a welder and then a seaman, working his way up from deckhand to Captain on the tugboats. In his early forties Harrison became a BC Coast Pilot (BCCP) and eventually President of the company for a two year term. In addition to his work career he was a volunteer firefighter for 14 years. Harrison was smitten by Joan from the moment he met her and they married in 1957, celebrating their 66th wedding anniversary this year. In almost every photo of the two of them and every day they were together one could see him gazing adoringly at Joan and vice versa. Harrison and Joan loved to travel, spending time on their boat, camping in their RV, including many winters in Palm Springs, and visiting countries around the world. Proud of his indigenous heritage Harrison was a great storyteller, a legend as a Master Mariner, a voracious reader, a self made man with a wicked sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye. A fiercely devoted husband, a loving and protective father, a good and loyal friend, he will be missed by many. In Harrison’s words… “I attribute the beauty of the sunrises and sunsets to the quantity of ash, dust and smoke in the atmosphere. Following my demise I plan to contribute in a small way to the quality of the displays.”
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Published online December 16, 2023 in The Vancouver Sun & The Province