Margret Stembridge, 88, a longtime Brockville resident, died October 15, 2002 at Brockville General Hospital.
Born in Toronto March 28, 1914, she was the daughter of Wilfred Argue and the former Eleanor Evans. She was raised in Toronto and came to Brockville in about 1931.
She married Rodney John Stembridge on May 16, 1933 and moved to 6 Daniel Street, where she lived the rest of her life. She worked in retail sales and was a homemaker. She retired 40 years ago.
Mrs. Stembridge identified with the United Church and belonged to several church groups over the years. She also enjoyed lawn bowling and five-pin league bowling.
She is survived by her sons Rodney of Kingston and Dennis of Willowdale and by daughter E. Anne Preston of Ogdensburg, N.Y., as well as eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband, brother Robert Argue and sister Eleanor Dempsey.
The funeral was held October 18 in the Irvine Funeral Home Chapel, with Father Stan Riley, retired Anglican minister, officiating. Burial followed at Oakland Cemetery.
The pallbearers were Jack Gauthier, Emmett McCoo, Bob Gauthier, Blake Burns, Edward Maracle and Steve Albertson.
Memorial donations were directed to the Hospice of Providence Palliative Care.
Kim Labron, 58
Kim Labron, 58, died October 21, 2002 at St. Vincent de Paul Hospital, having lived with cancer for five and a half years.
She was born Camilla Ann Duby in St. Vincent de Paul Hospital on June 27, 1944, the daughter of Harold Duby and the former Margaret MacNamee. She lived in the Manitonna Hotel, which her father managed; he had transferred here from the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal.
A few years later the family moved to Perth, where her parents had purchased the Perth Hotel. She attended public school in Perth and then went to Kingston's Notre Dame Convent for her secondary education.
She returned to Brockville in 1964, and worked as a teller at the Bank of Montreal.
She married Doug Labron on September 17, 1964, in Ingleside. She later stayed home and raised their two children, Shelley and Shawn.
When the children were older, she returned to work, this time at Victoria and Grey Trust, later National Trust, where she worked for 18 years as a customer service officer. She retired five and a half years ago, shortly after her husband, deputy chief of the Brockville police, retired.
Mrs. Labron was a member of Wall Street United Church in Brockville and belonged to the United Church Women (Unit 5). She was a volunteer in the past with St. Lawrence Lodge Auxiliary and belonged to the Police Ladies Auxiliary. She also volunteered with Meals on Wheels.
Looking forward to sharing retirement with her husband, she learned in 1996 that she had breast cancer. She took a positive attitude toward her illness and toward life. She joined the Brockville Breast Cancer Support Group, helped raise funds to fight breast cancer, volunteered with the Terry Fox Run and with the golf tournament for prostate cancer.
She loved to knit and read and enjoyed spending time at her cottage at Narrows Locks. She also loved shopping, especially for her children and grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband Doug Labron of Brockville, son Shawn of Toronto and daughter Shelley McMillen and husband Russ of Oakville, and grandchildren Mackenzie and Julianna. Also surviving are her brother Doug Duby and wife Sharon of Orleans and sister Maureen Jensen and husband Peter of Burlington, as well as 12 nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents and a brother, Roger Duby of California.
Friends called at the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville, on October 23. The funeral was held October 24 in Wall Street United Church, with Rev. Allan Bennett officiating. Burial was at St. Philip Neri Cemetery, Toledo.
The pallbearers were Gerald Curtis, Ray McFadden, Barry King, Ken Eady, John Chipman and Art Green. Members of the Breast Cancer Support Group formed an honour guard for her.
Memorial donations were directed to the Canadian Cancer Society and Hospice of Providence Palliative Care.
Chester Moulton, 38
SPENCERVILLE -- Chester Garnet Moulton, 38, of RR 4, Spencerville, died suddenly October 13, 2002 at Kemptville District Hospital.
He was born December 4, 1963 in Kemptville to Joseph Moulton and the former Mary Sayeau.
He worked as a transport truck driver. For the past five years he had worked for Tibbs Transport. He loved fishing, boating and waterskiiing.
He is survived by his dear friend, Elaine Bergin; parents Joseph and Mary Moulton of Spencerville; daughter Danielle; brothers Garry and wife Lori, Alan and wife Donna, Greg and wife Mary Anne, Richard and wife Michelle and Mark and wife Angie; sisters Joan Kingston and husband Paul, Julie Morasse and husband Daniel, and Mary Joe.
He was predeceased by his brother Steven.
Friends called at the Grant Brown Funeral Home-Purcell Chapel, Spencerville, where on October 17 the funeral was held, with Pastor Graemme Marshall officiating. The eulogy was given by Billy Smith, his co-worker. Burial followed at South Gower Cemetery.
The pallbearers were his brothers Garry, Alan, Greg, Richard and Mark and his close friend, Derrick Workman. The honorary pallbearers were his fellow co-workers and friends Bill Smith, Don Merkley, Brandon Smith, James Holmes, Chris Tate, Blair Reilly, Bill Holmes, Ernie Gagnon and Robin Workman.
Memorial donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation were gratefully acknowledged by the family.
Mike Murphy, 74
ELGIN -- Michael "Mike" Joseph Gerard Murphy, 74, who grew up in Elgin, died October 7, 2002 in Scarborough Hospital-General Division. He had been hospitalized for two months. He was a resident of Scarborough at the time of his death.
He was born November 1, 1927 in Kingston to George Murphy and the former Kathleen Freeman. He was educated at St. Mary's School in Kingston, Elgin Public School and Regiopolis College, Kingston.
His life included varied careers as a journalist, a stationary engineer and an author.
He first worked for an Ottawa newspaper as its Smiths Falls correspondent and lived in Smiths Falls. Later he was a stationary engineer with the Canadian Pacific Railway, working out of Smiths Falls for about 10 years. He retired six years ago.
He was a member of the Writers' Union of Canada and author of My Kind of People, a book published in 1987 about characters he knew and liked from the Elgin and Toronto areas. He also wrote several short stories and was planning to write another book.
Mr. Murphy was an avid sports fan and a good conversationalist. He was an extensive reader, devouring three newspapers a day, as well as sports papers and magazines.
He was predeceased about 20 years ago by his brother, Rev. Peter F. Murphy, former pastor of St. Mark's Parish in Prescott.
Friends called at the Scotland Funeral Home, Elgin, on October 8. The funeral was held October 9 in St. Columbanus Church, Elgin, with Father Peter H. Murphy, a cousin, and Father Raymond Vickers officiating. Burial followed at St. Columbanus Cemetery, Elgin.
The pallbearers were Mike Freeman, Art Joyce, Bob Kearney and Rene Villeneuve.
Memorial donations were directed to the Lung Association of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville.
Emmet Norton
Emmet Norton, 68, a lifetime resident of the Morrisburg area died Thursday, November 14, 2002 at the Winchester Hospital.
Born in Aultsville, Ontario, June 11, 1934, he was one of four children.
Mr. Norton married his wife Bea Lawlor at the St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church on February 24, 1962.
He worked as a machine operator before being a lead hand at Beavers Dental for over 37 years before retiring in 1999.
On his spare time, Mr. Norton enjoyed spending time with his family, watching his grandsons, Joey and Jamie Sargeant, play hockey and soccer. He loved taking his family pets Benji and Snoopy for long walks between camping trips with his wife, Bea.
Mr. Norton was a member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus Council #6882.
He is survived by his children, Leeann Norton of Cornwall and Vicki and husband Paul Sargeant of Prescott and his two grandsons.
Mr. Norton was predeceased by wife Bea and his parents.
Friends were called at Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Williamsburg on November 16. Interment followed at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery with Father Arikat officiating.
Pallbearers included Chuck Lawlor, Paul Sargeant, Doug Hodgson, Bill Lawlor, Garnet Lawlor and Bill Knight.
