LEVERMAN (Crowell), Barbara Lewis

Passed away in Halifax on June 6, 2021, at age 93. Barb was born in 1927 (the same year Lindbergh flew to Paris) in Waltham, Mass., to Clement and Esther (Lewis) Crowell. When she was four years old, her family moved to Lockeport, where she spent her summers on the beach, going to the movies every Saturday with her sister, covering thousands of miles on her bicycle (all within the town limits), and collecting and reading over 200 movie magazines. In 1944, she went to Acadia University for two years, opening nary a book but never missing a dance. She later said to her father, “Don’t think you wasted your money sending me to university because I had the time of my life!”. Barb moved to Halifax in 1946, living with all her relatives; as each one tired of her, she moved onto the next. She secured employment at Simpson’s Department Store as a secretary and what she lacked in shorthand skills, she made up for with her sense of humour. A lifelong music fan, she spent her lunch breaks in the music department playing records she had no intention of purchasing. It was there that she caught the eye of Doug Leverman, who asked her out three times before she relented, and turned down his marriage proposals another three times until they were hitched in 1949. She worked at the Child Guidance Clinic at Dalhousie before becoming a full time mother of three sons and supporting her husband in his business endeavours. During the 1950s, there were many weekend parties – the living room rug rolled up against the wall for dancing. In later years, Saturday nights were spent with close friends at the Armdale Yacht Club, the Saraguay Club and the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron. Barb spent many summers at her family cottage in Lake Annis, later bringing her children with her and instilling in them a love of Yarmouth County. In her later years, she remained in her beloved home on the lake, continued to play the piano beautifully and was an enthusiastic, daily cribbage player. She is survived by sons, William, Douglas (Cécile) and Andrew (Caroline); grandsons, Myles and Jack. She was predeceased by her husband, Douglas; sister, Betty; and brother, Bill (Frances). A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to J.A. Snow Funeral Home. Online condolences may be directed to: www.jasnowfuneralhome.com In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bide Awhile: https://bideawhile.org/