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Posted Sep 9, 2026 | 10:32 AM
These are words from Meirion’s partner, Bob Leahy
“This week we lost the best thing that ever happened to me. Meirion Jones (August 3, 1945 – September 7, 2026) passed away at The Bridge Hospice in Warkworth. He had been battling cancer, mostly successfully until recently, for 13 years. He was a fighter and an informed and intelligent one at that, but ultimately his body gave up. It was tragic to see his recent decline.
Meirion was quite simply an extraordinary man. I never got over my luck in connecting with him. It was in Puerto Rico while we were on vacation separately, 45 years ago. We’ve spent few days apart since. We clicked – and we continued to click – through five changes of homes and multiple dogs, mostly labs and basset hounds. We both loved dogs. He loved sports, I didn’t; it didn’t matter. Most everything else we agreed on. We both were obsessed with collecting Fiestaware, for example.
Born in Timmins, he later moved with his family to Beaverton, Ontario. Next was downtown Toronto. In the 90’s his life took a different route – and a very different lifestyle. Urban living changed to rural when he and I stumbled upon a home in the jewel that is Warkworth, Ontario. We became (sort of) farm-boys. Meirion loved living in the country. I continue to do so.
Meirion was both a gentle man and a gentleman. His career was in IBM, both in mainframes and in a teaching role. In retirement his considerable talents shone. Besides selling real estate, he served on Trent Hills Council but also as chair of PARN-Your Community AIDS Resource Network and leading roles in the Warkworth Business Association, the Warkworth arts community and more. He was well-loved and had a very wide and diverse range of friends.
I loved him with all my heart. So do our current pooches, Bailey and Ruby. They will miss him and so will his large and extended family that stretched far beyond Warkworth.
I will miss him terribly.
He was a no-fuss guy and his final wishes reflected that. So he wished for no funeral, instead cremation and a celebration of life a few months down the road – and that’s what he’ll get. I do know that he would also wish for any donations to be directed to The Bridge Hospice. They took such great care of him. I can’t thank them enough for that. “