Franklin North McLeay was born in Medicine Hat and raised on his father's, Phil McLeay's, ranch in Irvine. He was educated at Irvine School and took a mechanic's course in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Franklin helped his mother with his parents' ranching business after the death of his father, until 1934 when she also passed away. Frank married Mary (nee Glock) on June 15, 1945 after he had met her while working on the ranch. During the Second World War, Frank and Mary started cattle ranching. Frank McLeay was one of the first men on the Ross Creek Irrigation District's board of directors, and one of the first to introduce propane gas into the Irvine and Medicine Hat areas. He made propane installations all over southern Alberta. He was in business with Raymond Jacobson in Medicine Hat, which they sold in 1957. In 1956 Frank and Mary sold their ranch in Irvine and moved to Medicine Hat. In 1957, Frank bought the Rush Lake Cattle Ranch at Chappice Lake, which he was in business in until 1963 when they sold their share and once again returned to Medicine Hat. Franklin North McLeay passed away in 1981.