LEIGHTON, Gretta Mildred (nee Pengelly) – Died peacefully on Friday, August 2, 2024 at Campbell House Hospice, Collingwood in her 97th year. Gretta is now reunited in Heaven with the love of her life, James Keith Leighton after 18 long years. Gretta was the loving mother of Bruce Leighton (Sandra), Cynthia Robertson (Gordon) and the late Michael McCarty (Marie). She was the cherished grandmother of Julie Leighton, Tracey Moore (John), Sean Robertson (Kirstyn), James Robertson (Jaclyn), Caitlyn DeLeon (Ramiro), Graeme Robertson, Adam McCarty (Pauly), Ben McCarty (Alison), Angela Smith (late Brian), Wayne Smith (Melissa) and great grandmother of Cody Leighton, Jackson Mountford, Austin and Amy Moore, Mikayla Phelps, Elliot, Max, Claire and Haydn Robertson, Charley DeLeon, Weslee McClelland, and Emma and Poppy McCarty. Gretta will be sadly missed by her extended family and friends near and far, whom she always did her best to support and encourage. Gretta was an ambitious woman throughout her life, who put her mind to various new challenges and opportunities. After her marriage in 1949, she and Keith farmed for several years in Mulmur Township above Creemore, they subsequently purchased and ran the General Store, Post Office and Gas Bar in the village of Dunedin; followed by a few years of factory work in Collingwood before returning to entrepreneurship to own and operate the Restaurant and Gas Station at Cashtown Corners. After this business venture became too overwhelming for them to maintain, Keith and Gretta sold and Gretta finished her work life as a cook at the Sunnidale Nursing Home in Stayner. As a result of her business background and years in service to the public, she was well known in the community. Her personal interests included quilt making, gardening and baking, camping and woodworking with Keith. She was a faithful supporter of her church family and was active in the UCW. Until the end of her life she enjoyed living independently in the Huron Meadows Retirement Community in Stayner, where she had developed many friends. She will be greatly missed there as well. Friends are invited to join the family at the Carruthers & Davidson Funeral Home, 7313 Highway 26, Stayner on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 for visitation from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The funeral service will be held at Centennial United Church, 234 William Street, Stayner, on Thursday, August 8, 2024 at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow in the church hall. Gretta will be laid to rest with Keith at the Creemore Union Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Gretta to Centennial United Church, the Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County or the Creemore Union Cemetery would be appreciated by the family. To sign Gretta’s Book of Memories, please visit www.carruthersdavidson.com.