ATHENS -- Margaret Jean Gray, 69, died of a heart attack October 16, 2003 at Brockville General Hospital. She had been troubled by serious lung problems and an arthritic hip for the past two years.
Born in Bay Roberts, Newfoundland, on July 5, 1934, she was the daughter of Bromwell Russell and the former Marion Snow. She was educated in Bay Roberts and then Bishop's Falls, where she graduated from Grade 11 and then completed a stenographer's course.
She worked as a secretary in a law office and later with the federal department of fisheries, both in St. John's, Newfoundland. Then she was an executive secretary for Churchill Falls Labrador Corp. Ltd.
She married Keith "Rocky" Gray on May 24, 1973, in Churchill Falls, Labrador. She lived in Schreiber, Ont., and in December 1974 moved to Athens.
She stayed home to raise her daughter, then worked as a receptionist/secretary for Burt Hudson Real Estate in Athens from 1988 until her retirement in July 1999.
She attended Athens United Church, was past secretary of the Athens and District Chamber of Commerce and enjoyed curling with the Athens Curling League. She loved to ride her bike, before hip problems developed, and she was a big fan of her husband's and daughter's sporting teams (hockey, ladies fastball etc.). She loved spending time with family and friends and enjoyed playing cards, particularly euchre.
Mrs. Gray is survived by her husband Rocky Gray; daughter Lynn Coleman and husband Chris of Athens; three brothers, Chesley Russell and wife Marion of Powell River, B.C., Boyd Russell and wife Phyllis of Wasaga Beach, Ont., and Roy Russell and wife Miriam of Powell River, B.C.; one sister, Cavell Penney and husband Mike of Powell River; several nieces and nephews and her stepmother, Ella Russell, of Grand Falls, Newfoundland.
Friends called at the Judson Funeral Home, Athens, on October 19. The funeral was held October 20 in Athens United Church, with Rev. Dolly Dikens officiating. Eulogies were given by Susan Schapelhouman and Lynn Coleman. Burial followed at Glen Elbe Cemetery.
The pallbearers were John Hawkins, Chris Gray, Dean Pattemore, Wayne Somerville, Rocky Greenham and Brian Russell. The honorary pallbearers were Ray Craig, Gerald Bell, Cecil Reynolds, John Botsford, Les Coutlee, Bob Murphy, Tom Watt, Charlie Rennie and Nelson Scott.
Memorial donations were directed to the Maple View Lodge, Athens, and the Athens Medical Centre.
Sam Yee, 74
Sam Yee (Yee Chew Sam), 74, drowned in a fishing accident September 8, 2003 at Long Sault Provincial Park, Cornwall.
He was born January 22, 1930, in China to Moon Q. Hom and his wife, Chung Kim Tam. He was raised and educated in Hong Kong, China, and married Tam Pui Ching in 1948 in China.
He came to Canada in 1956 and upgraded his education at the Radio College of Canada in Montreal.
In 1964 he came to Prescott to live and worked as an electronic technician at the RCA plant in town for 40 years. He retired eight years ago.
He belonged to the RCA fishing club and always enjoyed fishing. He had travelled to eastern Canada and China during his retirement years.
Mr. Yee is survived by his wife, Tam Pui Ching Yee; two sons, Michael Yee and wife Susan of Brockville and Peter C. Yee and wife Jayne of Belleville; two daughters, Linda and husband Washon of Richmond Hill and Lisa and husband Joseph of Scarborough; and nine grandchildren, Matthew, Albert, Kristen, Allyson, Christopher, Jeramie, Stephanie, Melissa and Kevin. Also surviving is his mother-in-law Yee Wick Wah.
He was predeceased by his parents.
Friends called at the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville, where on September 12 the funeral was held, with Rev. David Jones, First Presbyterian Church, Brockville, officiating. Burial followed at Oakland Cemetery, just west of Brockville.
The pallbearers were King Yee Sr., King Yee Jr., Winston Lau, Norman Szeto, Wing Hum, George Jen, Ross Mah and Ming Mah.
Memorial donations were directed to Brockville General Hospital and Hospice of Providence, St. VIncent de Paul Site, Brockville.
Jo-anne Cyr, 58
ELGIN -- Jo-anne M. M. Cyr, 58, of Delta, died peacefully at her home on December 30, 2003.
She was born July 21, 1945 in Laval, Que., and was raised by her mother, Helen Lavigne, in Ottawa.
Her first marriage was to Gordon Park. On September 3, 1977 she married Leo "Butch" Cyr in Russell, Ont.
Mrs. Cyr was self-employed as the owner of Seeleys Bay Residential Lodge, which she operated for about 10 years.
She enjoyed toll painting, crafts and gardening.
She is survived by her husband, Leo Cyr; two sons, Michael Park of Brockville and Philip Park of Delta; two daughters, Kimberly Park of Delta and Jacqueline Cyr of Ottawa; brother James Lavigne of Carleton Place; seven grandchildren and two nieces/nephews.
She was predeceased by her mother Helen Lavigne and a daughter, Josee Cyr.
Her funeral was held January 3 at the Scotland Funeral Home, with Rev. Myra Garvin of St. John's United Church officiating. Cremation was arranged.
Laurette Derbowka, 55
Laurette Vivianne Derbowka, 55, died of heart failure due to breast cancer January 27, 2002 at Kingston General Hospital. She had been ill for eight years.
She was born April 2, 1946 in Kingston to Andy Malette and the former Martha Bouchard. She was raised and educated in Kingston, marrying Ronald Derbowka there on May 22, 1965.
After her marriage, she lived in Yorkton, Sask. until 1967, and worked at the Yorkton Union Hospital.
She moved back to Kingston in 1967 and worked at Queen's University. She and her husband moved to Brockville in 1969 and she worked first at Montreal Trust as a teller, then went to Bell Canada, starting in the payment office. She became an order writer, then a client representative. She was also a union representative for several years.
She was a member of St. Francis Xavier Church, Brockville, and enjoyed travelling, fishing, camping, reading, knitting and gardening.
Mrs. Derbowka is survived by her husband Ronald, son David Ross Derbowka at home, and daughter Elizabeth Andrea Derbowka of Brampton.
Also surviving are two brothers, Goody Malette of Windsor and Bert Malette of Prescott, and two sisters, Denise Casey of Gatineau, Que., and Lola Hall of Kingston, as well as two nieces and seven nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents.
Friends called at the Irvine Funeral Home and Chapel, Brockville, where on January 30 the funeral was held, with Father John Hibbard officiating.
The pallbearers were Larry Casey, Mike Pusztai Sr., Mike Pusztai Jr., Dale Smith, John Smith and Danny Piotto. The honorary pallbearer was Joyce Pusztai.
Louis Rooney, 48
IROQUOIS -- Louis Patrick Rooney, 48, owner of Rooney Feeds Ltd., died January 20, 2002 at Winchester and District Memorial Hospital.
He was born to Frank Rooney and the former Margaret Mitten on August 9, 1953, in Brockville. He lived most of his life in Iroquois and married Audrey Merkley there on October 11, 1975, in St. Cecilia's Roman Catholic Church.
Mr. Rooney owned Rooney Feeds Ltd. in Iroquois, which had an outlet store in South Gower. The business included a feed mill, pet foods and a fertilizer plant.
He was a partner in Tri-County Protein, at Winchester, and was a member of the Ottawa Feed and Grain Dealers.
Mr. Rooney is survived by his wife Audrey, father Frank and friend Carol Daisley, sons Jason of Etobicoke and Spencer at home, brothers Michael and wife Nancy of Calgary and Edward and wife Nancy of Caledon East, and four sisters, Rosann Mullins and husband Kevin of Manotick, Mary Lemoine and husband Barry of Orleans, Colleen Rooney of Toronto and Caroline of Iroquois.
Also surviving are his parents-in-law, Barb and Leo Merkley of RR 2 Iroquois, brother-in-law Kenny Merkley and wife Margaret of Kingston and sister-in-law Margie of Keswick and 16 nieces and nephews.
Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Iroquois, on January 22 and 23. The funeral was held January 24 in St. Cecilia's Roman Catholic Church, Iroquois, with Father Hibert officiating. Cremation was arranged.
The pallbearers were Troy McMillan, Aaron Banford, Sheldon Tryon, Jamie Hartle, Jason Crawford and Sean Sears. The honorary pallbearers were Jay Merkley, Ray Hunter, Perry Smail, Andrew Droppo, John Vanderspank and Karen Merkley.
