Obituary of John Ashley

<h1>John Ashley</h1> 1929 – 2008 At St. Mary’s Hospital, Kitchener on Saturday, January 5, 2008 in his 78th year. Loving husband of June Ashley (nee Millman) for 56 years. Devoted father of Kristine Bailey and her husband, Dennis and Tom Ashley and his wife Cindy. Lovingly remembered by his grandchildren, Julie Bailey and her husband Adam, Tom Bailey, Sami, Wes and Zac Ashley. Survived by his brother, Doug Ashley. Predeceased by his parents, Wesley and Margaret Ashley as well as his sister, Pat Ashley. John Ashley was born in Galt and lived in Preston. John played minor hockey in Preston, later he played for the Toronto Marlboros and the Guelph Biltmores. By 1959 he signed a contract to officiate in the NHL. He spent eighteen years in the NHL, thirteen as a referee and five as a scout and councillor to referees. John refereed 1,075 games. Of this, 622 were regular NHL games and fifty-eight were NHL play-off games. In the last eight of his thirteen on ice seasons Ashley was rated the NHL’s number one referee. On September 15, 1981, John Ashley was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Friends are invited to share their memories of John with his family during visitation at the Erb &amp; Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo, on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. The funeral service to celebrate John’s life will be held in the chapel of the funeral home on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at 1 p.m. Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations in John’s memory may be made to the Heart &amp; Stroke Foundation, the Diabetes Association, or Grand River Hospital- COPD Clinic and can be arranged through the funeral home, 519-745-8445 or www.erbgood.com. In living memory of John a tree will be planted through the Trees for Learning Program by the funeral home.