IROQUOIS -- Helen Smith, 94, of Iroquois, a retired school teacher, died January 16, 2003 at Ottawa General Hospital.
She was born Helen Irene Latourell on January 21, 1908, at South Gower to William Latourell and the former Matilda Brown.
She was educated in the local one-room school and at Kemptville High School. An outstanding student academically, she entered McMaster University in Hamilton and graduated in 1929 with an honours degree in English and history. She then attended the Ontario College of Education.
After graduation, she became principal of Hallville Consolidated School. The next year she moved south to the St. Lawrence Valley, where she taught for 38 years in Iroquois, Cardinal, Prescott and Spencerville.
While teaching in Iroquois, she met and married her husband, Harry "Bud" Smith, who predeceased her on September 30, 1990. She continued teaching and raised a family of five girls. Even after retiring, she continued tutoring students around her kitchen table until after her 90th birthday.
In addition to her academic contributions, she served as councillor and deputy reeve in Iroquois for six years.
Greatly disturbed at the closing of the South Gower Baptist Church, she worked diligently to see that it was reopened to serve the community.
She was a member of the Mundy Knights Reading Club, played many roles in local drama productions and entertained audiences with her public speaking.
Children were her focus in life and no effort to please them was too time consuming. She told her grandchildren and great-grandchildren many stories, showed them countless family photos, and baked pies, breads and other treats for them.
Mrs. Smith is survived by her daughters, Bonnie Adair and husband Ron, of Iroquois; Sandra Wagner and husband Max, of Markham; Sharon Christian and husband Don, of Toronto; Cheryl Smith, of Kemptville; and Shelley Smith, of Brockville, as well as 11 grandchildren, Meridee, Robin, Rondalyn, Kendra, Hali, Janice, Kimberley, Heather, Matthew, Jeremy and Burke, and 10 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by brothers Frank and Harold Latourell and sister Donella Thompson.
Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home, Iroquois, on January 18 and 19. The funeral was held January 20, at South Gower Baptist Church, with Rev. Bruce McCallum officiating. Burial will be at South Gower Cemetery in the spring.
The pallbearers were Ron Adair, Robin Adair, Max and Matthew Wagner and Don and Jeremy Christian.
Memorial donations were directed to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Lawrence Tedford, 83
ATHENS -- Lawrence Arthur Tedford, 83, died November 30, 2002 at Maple View Lodge in Athens. He had lived in Athens until his wife's death in 1999, after which he lived at Bridlewood Manor Retirement Home in Brockville and Maple View Lodge, respectively.
He was born in Charleston on October 6, 1919, the first son of Arthur Tedford and the former Margaret Lyons.
He farmed in the Chantry area until enlisting in the Canadian Army in June 1941. He was stationed during the Second World War in Cornwall and Kingston until discharge in February 1944. He then returned to the family homestead in Chantry, near Delta.
He married Brenda Morris of Delta in July 1944 and they lived and farmed in the Harlem area until the fall of 1948, when they purchased their farm in Soperton. He and his wife raised three children while working long hours farming seven days a week for more than 38 years. Theirs was the only Jersey dairy farm in the region.
Mr. Tedford was also well known for his production of high-quality maple syrup. He often had difficulty filling all the orders from his regular customers and it was once reported that a purchaser sent his syrup as a gift to the Queen of England.
He was a member of the local school board while his children were in public school and was also active for a number of years in the Delta Legion, both as a member and a past president.
A lifetime honorary member of the Delta Agricultural Society, he was very involved in the Delta Fair board for many years, donating his time and expertise and holding a number of positions, including president.
Retiring from farming in 1982, he and his wife sold their farm in Soperton and moved to their new home in Athens. As a former farmer, he took great pride in his garden, lawns and flowers and soon became active in his new community.
He enjoyed watching local hockey and baseball games and eventually joined the executive of the Athens Aeros. For many years he made up posters for every Aeros home game, placing notices about town and also putting a sign in his front yard to advertise each home game.
He also greatly enjoyed attending local stock car races. Even this year and in failing health, he continued to maintain his season pass and would be found every Friday night sitting with his son in the stands.
Mr. Tedford is survived by his son Bill and wife Verna of Brockville and two daughters, Mary Ferguson and husband Ernie of Athens and Penny Tedford and Arthur of Toledo, as well as five grandchildren, Neil Ferguson and wife Corina of Athens, Kim Ferguson and husband Peter Muha of Fort Myers, Florida, Michael Sharpe and wife Tammy of Delta, Jim Tedford and Michael Tedford of British Columbia, and six great-grandchildren.
Also surviving are his sister Eleanor Knapp of Brockville and brother Jack Tedford and wife Maxine of Jasper, as well as a number of nieces and nephews.
Besides his wife Brenda, he was predeceased by his sister Dorothy Lawson and brother Vincent Tedford.
Friends called at the Judson Funeral Home, Athens, where on December 3 the funeral was held. Rev. Nelson Trafford officiated and burial followed at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Maitland.
The pallbearers were family friends Dale Ogilvie, Dave Blanchard, Wayne McManus, Dave Reid, Gary Holder and Wayne VanDrunnen.
Memorial donations were directed to the Maple View Lodge and to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Helen Steele, 84
Helen Barlow Steele, a longtime volunteer for people ranging from children to shut-ins, died November 24, 2002 at Brockville General Hospital, aged 84.
She was born November 12, 1918, at home Ameliasburgh Township, near Belleville, to George Lough and Sarah Victoria Barlow. She was educated at Mountain View School.
She came to the Brockville area in 1947. She was a homemaker, both in her own home and helping others with the Red Cross. She was affiliated with St. Paul's Anglican Church and was a life-time member of Anglican Church Women, a 4-H leader, cub scout leader and member of the Brick School Women's Institute.
She regularly phoned shut-ins, was an avid reader and accomplished cook, and enjoyed her family, which included 19 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Her family describes her as having a unique ability to relate to and enjoy people of all ages.
She is survived by her sons Douglas, Ivan (Barb), Ross, George (Joan) and Al (Deborah), daughters Marilyn Golledge, Linda Tedford, Sharon Campbell (Fred), Sheila Bondi (Leonard) and Donna Moulton (Ross). Also surviving are brothers Howard Lough (Jessie) and Ronald Lough (Eva) and sister Mary Skinkle (Walter).
Predeceasing her were her son Ronald, brothers Ross and Percy Lough, sister Doris Oram and son-in-law David Golledge.
Visitation was at the Barclay Funeral Home November 26. The funeral was the following day at St. Paul's Anglican Church, with Rev. Stan Riley and son-in-law Archdeacon Ross Moulton officiating.
The pallbearers were sons Ivan, George, Douglas, Ross and Al.
Memorial donations were directed at St. Paul's Anglican Church, the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Canadian Diabetes Association.
Eldon Coon, 68
ELGLIN -- Eldon Justus Coon, 68, of County Road 40, Athens, died suddenly January 14, 2003 at Brockville General Hospital.
He was born May 16, 1934 in Lyn to Wilf Coon and the former Beverly Purcell. Raised and educated in Lyn, he married Serena Chisholm on May 16, 1953.
He worked at Automatic Electric for several years and then operated his own business, Coon's Lumber, on Highway 29, for many years. He lived in Delta, Athens and Charleston Lake over the years and enjoyed boating and fishing.
He is survived by his three sons, Allan of Seeleys Bay, and Keven and Jason of Athens; four grandchildren; three brothers, Gerald and Donny of Lyn and Mel of Brockville; and nine nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents and his wife.
Friends called at the Scotland Funeral Home, Elgin, where on January 17 the funeral was held, with Rev. Harry Seeley officiating. Burial followed at Halladay Cemetery, Elgin.
The pallbearers were Herb Vincent, Mike Veenstra, Joe Maggio, Dwayne Perrin, Ken Scanlon and Wayne Sly. The honorary pallbearers were Ed Nantel and Nelson Scott.
Memorial donations were directed to the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Maple View Lodge, in Athens.
Gladys Ellacott, 91
Gladys Irene Ellacott, 91, longtime Brockville resident, died of heart failure January 4, 2003 at her home, with her family present.
She was born February 4, 1911, in Prescott to George Ewart and the former Jean Gladstone. She was raised in Prescott. After graduating from Prescott High School she attended the Brockville Business College and graduated in 1929 with highest honours.
Following business college she worked in the office of the Beamish Store in Prescott, and in 1939 she earned a certificate in Red Cross nursing in preparation for the war effort.
While working at the Beamish Store, she met her husband Gerald Ellacott, who was then store manager. They were married in Prescott in June 1940 and moved to Brockville in 1941 when he was transferred here.
She had a sweet nature and was a devoted mother and homemaker for many years. She and her husband were divorced in 1958 and from 1968 to 1979 she worked as the front desk clerk at the former Queen's Grant Motel on Stewart Boulevard. She was 68 years old when she retired.
Mrs. Ellacott was a member of St. Peter's Anglican Church and in earlier years had belonged to its Anglican Church Women group.
For more than 60 years the focal point of her life was the family cottage near Maitland, where she shared good times and made happy memories with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In early years she enjoyed skating, volleyball and dancing. She was also an avid bridge player and loved knitting, reading and crossword puzzles. To the end she had a passionate interest in and knowledge of baseball and hockey.
Mrs. Ellacott is survived by her children, Tom and his wife Joan, Bob and his wife Patti and Barb Davis and her husband Gary, all of Brockville, as well as seven grandchildren, Curtis Ellacott and wife Vicki of Russell, Patrick Ellacott and wife Alfie of Ottawa, Tracey O'Reilly and husband Michael of Brockville, Cherie Davidson and husband Steve of Mississauga, Sean Ellacott of Kenora, Kris Davis and wife Robin of Toronto and Natalie Davis of Ottawa.
Also surviving are seven great-grandchildren, David, Jenna, Dylan, Jack, Andrew, Letisha and Nadine; her sister Dorothy Fisher of Ogdensburg; numerous nieces and nephews; and many friends.
She was predeceased by her former husband, her parents, brothers Norman, Reginald and Lawrence Ewart and sister Marion Thomson.
Her funeral was held January 11 at St. Peter's Anglican Church, with Canon Michael Read of St. Peter's officiating. Readings were given by Curtis Ellacott and Natalie Davis, son Bob read his poem "A Greater Love" and Tracey O'Reilly delivered the eulogy.
Cremation and other arrangements were entrusted to the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville.
Memorial donations were directed to the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
