Los Angeles, CA — Elizabeth (Liz) Buxton passed away Jan. 20, with her husband and daughter at her side after being briefly hospitalized with COPD-related breathing difficulties. She was 81.

Born and raised in Ontario, Canada, she came to the United States after marrying Gary Buxton. While working payroll at Rideau Carleton Raceway in Ottawa, she met her future husband after misspelling his name on his paycheck, a subsequent source of great amusement to the family.

After marriage, Liz joined her husband on the harness racing circuit, sometimes working the mutuels until her first child, Brenda, was born. Liz devoted herself to her growing family — a second child, Bret, having arrived in 1971 — and remaining a source of stability despite constantly traveling as Gary worked racing meets all over the United States.

She greatly enjoyed socializing with the harness racing community and made many friends. In 1975, the family moved to the Los Angeles area and Liz held down the home fort while Gary frequently traveled for his job. As her children grew up, Liz returned to working as a bookkeeper, eventually creating her own business that she only officially retired from in 2018.

A warm and gregarious person, her home was always open to family and friends from Canada, the harness racing community, and elsewhere. Her love of travel continued into her later years, and after Gary’s retirement, they enjoyed traveling the California coast. In April 2021, they celebrated 56 years of marriage.

Liz is survived by her husband, Gary; daughter, Brenda (Stephen Walsh); son, Bret (Dina); niece, Mary Beth (Fred Henry); nephew, Brad (Jo Ellen); grandchildren, Flynn, Violet and Dakota; and great-granddaughter, Emilynn.