Rigney, Jeffrey Francis 'Jeff'

Jeffrey was the youngest of two children born to Walter and Marie (nee Sampson) Rigney at London, Ontario.  He was the younger brother of Tracey.  Sadly, Jeff was predeceased by his older sister who passed on March 21, 2024.

As a child, the family moved to the Montreal area where Walter was Vice President of an agricultural fertilizer company.  Here, both Jeff and Tracey became fluent in French while also learning to ski and enjoy the Quebecois lifestyle. Jeff and Tracey were both very active in figure skating during this time.

Forming a new family fertilizer business, RIGLO Corp., allowed Walter, Marie and the kids to come back to Unionville where they all enjoyed being closer to the rest of the larger Rigney clan in the Collingwood area. Many trips up to the farm, as well as to the family cottage near Bala, made for a good life. When Walter bought an airplane, both Jeff and Tracey learned to fly at the Buttonville Airport, much to the worry of Marie!

The untimely passing of Jeff’s mother, Marie, in March of 1994, was a difficult blow to all but perhaps none so much as Jeff, the youngest child.

In time, Walter bought The Purple Dragon Ranch in the hills west of Thornbury and moved to be closer to his family in the Singhampton area.  Jeff was active in the family fertilizer business, helping his Dad while also taking specialty courses in micronutrients and turf management. Jeff, always an entrepreneur, built his own fertilizer and micronutrient business and travelled all over the world in this capacity, assisting golf courses, sod growers and others who needed “the perfect lawn”.

Later, Jeff got into the high volume / high security water treatment business, providing precision treatment services to municipalities and large facilities.  This work took him to many places in North America, particularly dry states like Nevada where water treatment is both critical and complex.  As he got older, the travelling life was hard on Jeff and he longed to put down roots and stay in one place.

Jeff returned to the Purple Dragon Ranch in later years, which is where he passed away in the company of his trusty dog, Dillon.

Jeff will be missed by his Dad, his Uncle Ken, all his cousins and friends from all over the world.

Cremation has taken place.  Private family arrangements at this time.

As your expression of sympathy, donations to the Beaver Valley Outreach would be appreciated and may be made through the Ferguson Funeral Home, 48 Boucher St. E., Meaford, ON   N4L 1B9 to whom arrangements have been entrusted.   www.fergusonfuneralhomes.ca