by Pat Asling
A week or so ago I brought into the house some branches of my star magnolia, one of the earlier blooming of my shrubs. I have not done that before but lo and behold, they are budding out and before you read this they will be in full bloom. The redwing blackbirds are back two weeks earlier than normal, as are the grackles. Are they taking a chance or is it really spring?
Last column I promised I would talk about the funerals I attended last week. Weather wise it was a beautiful week but sad in other ways as we said farewell to three prominent community members. These gentlemen had a lot in common, along with Bruce Harwood who passed several weeks ago now. They were farmers all their lives, as were their fathers before them and they farmed the same farm as had their fathers and grandfathers. To three of them at least music was a major part of their lives, as was their community and their respective churches.
The first service, on Thursday was for Bill Lockie. I had talked to Bill a month before at Douglas Crossing where he had lived for a few years after his wife Jackie passed away. I knew the Lockie family from the early 60s as the children were all patients of mine, and it was after 1968 when I went to Sandford United Church when I got to know the parents better. Bill’s celebration was held at Zephyr United Church, where his family had gone for at least two if not three generations. Pastor Gord Shreeve conducted the service with Ruth Baker at the piano. The Lockie children were in attendance; Anne (Mason), Barb (Malony), Deborah (Dunford) and Robert (Karen), with five grandchildren and six great grandchildren, plus two sisters. Sister Freda Sedore and daughters Anne and Barbara gave the eulogies, their memories of a man who loved his family and also loved playing baseball, which was a big thing back in the day in all our smaller communities. He was two days shy of his 91st Birthday!
On Friday it was Ted Croxall who passed away a month earlier, just shy of his 101 birthday. Ted and Corinne were married almost 75 years. The Croxalls had lived in Bethesday area for two generations before that and therefore known to my father, grandparents and great-grandparents. Eulogies were given by grandson David Croxall, former son-in-law Neil Armold (a Zephyr boy), son Rob Croxall and daughter-in-law Rev. Karen Croxall, who conducted the service. I don’t think I have ever laughed so much at a funeral. Ted was certainly a man of good humour and his many antics over the years brought as many smiles and laughs as they did tears. Ted and Corinne had three daughters (one disceased) and one son, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, who were so fortunate to get to enjoy him to the end.
The third celebration of life came quite quickly, a surprise and shock as we learned of the passing of Ross Risebrough. Ross would have been 84 in May. We used to kid each other about him being so old when he was a whole month older than me! My memory of Ross goes back again to after 1968 when his mother Jesse and I were at the sink in the old Sandford Hall (anyone remember that building?) washing dishes after a supper, just chatting, when she said how she wished Ross could find a nice girl and get married. Well he did, and that girl was Janice Fowlie, not a farm girl but she did a great job. They raised two girls, Sylvia who married Derek Kokkinen and Cindy married to Amanda, both of whom live very close to the home farm. My greatest memories of Ross are centred around the church choir and I thought as I sat in the service in Sandford United Church. We sang together for many years, starting in 1968, with Wilhelmine Carruther at the piano and later Nancy Wolfe at the organ, as she was sitting that day too. I am sure several others of the choir members who were there that day had similar thoughts. The service was taken by Rob Kennedy who started off by saying he had played at recitals at the very same piano when Mrs. Carruthers taught him music.
One last funereally thought, about Low and Low. Seeing John Low and Joe McGuire together so often made me think of history as McGuire and Low business began many years ago. For John three to four generations. I knew his dad Bill and my father was the one who did a lot of the alterations when the Blessman house was added to the Funeral parlour, a number of years ago now. The McGuires were also part of the business although Joe took a more active part after St. Johns closed. You can find history everywhere you look. A while ago, when looking for some information I came across a picture of the first town council. Do you recognize any of the names? This was in 1886. Harmon, Williams, Bascom, Crosby, Patterson, Keller, Brown, Dowling, Hamilton, McGillivray, Hunter and Horn.
Birthday wishes to Laurie Bond, my lovely sorority sister and to Sarah Moore, and her love of horses. Greetings also to Steve Wilson, a close neighbour but seen infrequently.
The ambitious Gwen Layton who hosted Jazz at Leaskdale Friday night and Wilma Guthrie Smith. She and husband Ted have just returned from a welcome holiday. Speaking of Leaskdale, the performers, along with Tom Baker, were violinist Victoria Yeh, who could make that instrument sing, and guitarist Mike Graham. Did you know there were electric violins? I sure didn’t until that night. There in one more concert on April 5th. After which the Friday Night Concerts at the Foster begin, every Friday night from May to October.
Congratulations to Sandi Bierema Ott and husband Dick on the arrival of another grandchild, daughter of Sandi’s son Tim and Megan, born February 26th, in Ottawa. The baby’s name is Lucy May, a tribute to Sandi’s mom Lucy Annand.
Congrats also to defenseman Owen Shier of the Uxbridge Bruins. In his final Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) regular season game and facing his former team, the Little Britain Merchants Hockey, he was named Coxlyn Farms Player of the Game for February 25th. At another moment the team were gathered to pay tribute to Pat Higgins who has contributed much to hockey, and sports in general in Uxbridge. Lo and behold, standing next to Pat in the photo was Momma Bear herself, our own Elaine Walker Cox. I know Elaine spent many hours in the arena, even though she was a farmer’s wife, a full time nurse and mother to these two rambunctious boys, the ones. Those boys along with Dad Murray, making up Coxlyn Farms.
Deborah and Dwight Clements hosted their daughter Rachel and her two little girls, one two years old, the other seven months, just learning to crawl, for a week. Deborah is tired. Wonder why?
Three of our ladies joined with the Greenbank/Seagrave ladies at Greenbank for a World Day of Prayer service. It was good to see a few familiar faces not seen for some time. Church this week was in Sandford, with Rev. Bill Fritz leading. For the next couple of weeks Carol O’Neil will be leading Please join with us celebrating the Easter season!