Jane Margaret Leak

Jane Margaret Leak, aged 82, eldest daughter of the late George and Margaret Alton, and beloved wife of the late David Leak, passed away August 9, 2020 in Austin, TX. Jane was born in West Hartlepool, England U.K. where she spent a happy childhood complete with family summer holidays to Scarborough, Yorkshire U.K. She attended Queenswood School and went onto King's College London where she earned an LLB (Bachelor of Laws) and joined The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn in 1960. During her college days, her roommate convinced her one Saturday night to go with her to a university hop where she met a dashing young Yorkshireman named David who would become her husband in 1960. Together they commenced a life of adventure living in Pasadena, CA then back to the U.K. for several years before boarding the Empress of Canada to emigrate to Canada in 1967 with their infant son, David. Settling in Hamilton, ON, they had two more children and Jane embraced the Canadian winters by taking them tobogganing at the local ski hill each year. They also lived in Vancouver, B.C., Tulsa, OK, and Temple, TX but always returned to the U.K. every summer in particular to Jersey, Channel Islands, U.K. where Jane's mother and father had retired. Loads of fun seaside memories were made- playing on the beach, tucking into delicious baked goodies (her parents had been professional bakers), plentiful cups of tea and enjoying treasured time together with family. Jane and David spent their retirement years in Temple, TX and Myrtle Beach, SC while also regularly traveling back to the U.K. to visit family and friends.

Jane was so kind, empathetic, observant and thoughtful. A beautiful and graceful presence. And so supportive of her children. The three of them could have run away and become lion tamers and she would have studied up on lion taming and been their biggest fans. She loved to write cards and would often include newspaper or magazine clippings of things she thought they would be interested in or if she thought it would brighten their day. She baked gorgeous fruitcakes (one of which became her daughter's wedding cake), Christmas puds, Victoria sponge cakes and was a talented seamstress. A keen language learner, she studied French for many years and then took up Spanish at the age of 80. Above all, she was a devoted mother, doting grandmother, cherished sister, and loving wife who will be dearly missed.

Jane is survived by her sister Barbara Madderson and husband Peter of Wrotham, U.K., brother Robert Alton and wife Mary of Jersey, C.I., U.K., and sister Caroline Alton and husband David Cooke of Birmingham, U.K.; her son David Leak and wife Isomi Tomari of Minnetrista, MN; son Robert Leak and wife Dione of Myrtle Beach, SC, and daughter Margaret Leak and husband Carey King of Austin, TX. Also 5 granddaughters: Katherine, Amy, Christine and Sophie Leak of Myrtle Beach, SC and Clair Tomari-Leak of Minnetrista, MN.

Farewell to thee! but not farewell

To all my fondest thoughts of thee:

Within my heart they still shall dwell;

And they shall cheer and comfort me.

-Anne Bronte