Sam Mullins

Because their parents weren't just anyone. They were Bob and Betty Staley. Bob was an affable government man, a leader, and mensch. And his mom?

She's posing on the hood of a Plymouth. Hot stuff, right? Andy says his folks were the best parents imaginable. They gave him the kind of idyllic Canadian childhood that you'd think only existed in the paintings of a dentist's office. Winters with hockey on frozen ponds, days at the beach, county fairs in the summers. Andy's folks were college sweethearts.

She's posing on the hood of a Plymouth. Hot stuff, right? Andy says his folks were the best parents imaginable. They gave him the kind of idyllic Canadian childhood that you'd think only existed in the paintings of a dentist's office. Winters with hockey on frozen ponds, days at the beach, county fairs in the summers. Andy's folks were college sweethearts.

And with their four children in tow, they made every space and community they inhabited brighter. Better. This was Bob and Betty Staley, Before the Nonsense. One of the first documents I find in the box that Andy gave me is an affidavit written by his dad. My father's affidavit, which he gave to the police.

And with their four children in tow, they made every space and community they inhabited brighter. Better. This was Bob and Betty Staley, Before the Nonsense. One of the first documents I find in the box that Andy gave me is an affidavit written by his dad. My father's affidavit, which he gave to the police.

They belonged to Knox United Church in Ayr, Ontario, a special place. The church was their life.

They belonged to Knox United Church in Ayr, Ontario, a special place. The church was their life.

If Knox United was the center of the Staley's lives, the center of the center was on stage in the choir loft.

If Knox United was the center of the Staley's lives, the center of the center was on stage in the choir loft.

Andy first noticed Albert in 1968 when Walker was only 23 years old. He joined the Knox United Choir after having just married into one of the church's more prominent families, the McDonald's. He married their only daughter, Barbara, after having just known her for three months, and took his place on stage beside the Staley's. His voice was a baritone.

Andy first noticed Albert in 1968 when Walker was only 23 years old. He joined the Knox United Choir after having just married into one of the church's more prominent families, the McDonald's. He married their only daughter, Barbara, after having just known her for three months, and took his place on stage beside the Staley's. His voice was a baritone.

He was tall, handsome, and to those at Knox United, a complete mystery. Nobody really knew from where he came. He just kind of showed up, right? Walker's life in the years before 68 still remained shrouded in mystery. Over the years, just a few press clippings and a self-published memoir by his wife Barbara shed any light.

He was tall, handsome, and to those at Knox United, a complete mystery. Nobody really knew from where he came. He just kind of showed up, right? Walker's life in the years before 68 still remained shrouded in mystery. Over the years, just a few press clippings and a self-published memoir by his wife Barbara shed any light.

These tell how he was born in Hamilton, that he grew up in a poor family who rented farmland, and he dropped out of school after having failed two grades. That's about it. I've come to believe that the details about his upbringing are hard to find by design. He didn't want people to know that he was from a poor family or was poorly educated.

These tell how he was born in Hamilton, that he grew up in a poor family who rented farmland, and he dropped out of school after having failed two grades. That's about it. I've come to believe that the details about his upbringing are hard to find by design. He didn't want people to know that he was from a poor family or was poorly educated.

And so when he arrived in Andy's life, he was ready to shed all of that and become someone new. And where better to be reborn than the church? Inside these walls, he could walk up to the most well-regarded couple in town and be considered their equals. and he never took the opportunity for granted.

And so when he arrived in Andy's life, he was ready to shed all of that and become someone new. And where better to be reborn than the church? Inside these walls, he could walk up to the most well-regarded couple in town and be considered their equals. and he never took the opportunity for granted.

Walker made quick work of joining the tight-knit clique of choir singers to which the Staley's belonged.

Walker made quick work of joining the tight-knit clique of choir singers to which the Staley's belonged.

In the 70s and 80s, the Walkers and Staley's built a beautiful friendship. Andy remembers working as the Walkers' paperboy. And then when Al and Barb had their first two daughters, Jill and Sheena, they enlisted Andy for some childcare.