Gertrude Bain, 81, a retired RNA, died September 15, 2003 at Wellington House in Prescott.
She was born August 13, 1922 in Aberdeen, Scotland, to Samuel McCaig and the former Anna Mary Cromarty. Orphaned at an early age, she grew up in the Quarrier Homes in Aberdeen and trained in nursing during the war years at Royal Glasgow Infirmary. Then she worked as an industrial nurse in the Royal Ordnance factory in Bishopton, Scotland.
She began seeing William Bain, whom she had known from the Quarrier Home, when he was wounded in the war and admitted to the hospital where she worked. On June 24, 1943, they were married in Aberdeen. She immigrated to Canada on April 12, 1946.
In the early 1960s she went back to school, taking a registered nursing assistant course at Brockville General Hospital. She graduated in 1963 and then worked part-time at Brockville General Hospital until she joined the Leeds and Grenville Health Unit. She worked for the health unit for 21 years, visiting schools in the area and also visiting geriatric patients in their homes and apartments. She retired in 1987.
Mrs. Bain was a capable woman. While her husband was away often with his job, she kept the household running, including one time reshingling the woodshed roof. She enjoyed sewing and working with stained glass. She also travelled to Vancouver and took several trips back to Scotland. Her home and family were very important to her.
She was diagnosed with Alzheimer disease later in life and lived at Wellington House, in Prescott, until her death.
She is survived by her son Donald Bain and wife Brenda of Brockville and three daughters, Trudy Bain and friend Marion Thacker of Maple Ridge, Laura Finucan and husband Edward of North Augusta and Sheila Phillips and husband Robin of RR 3, Jasper, as well as eight grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and several nieces/nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband in 1976 and by four sisters and four brothers, Ruby Reynolds, Pat Reedy, Leonard Hardie, Alfred, Sydney and Clifford and Evelyn and Doris.
Friends called at the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville, on September 16. There was no funeral service but burial was at Oakland Cemetery.
Memorial donations were directed to the Alzheimer Society, Canadian Cancer Society and Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Richard Burtch, 73
ELGIN -- Richard S. Burtch, 73, died of bladder cancer September 29, 2003 at his home. He had been ill for two years.
He was born June 8, 1930 at Sand Lake, Ont., to Henry Burtch and the former Mildred Yeatman. He was raised in Jones Falls and attended Morton Public School and Seeleys Bay High School.
He married Evelyn Knapp on July 12, 1958 in Elgin.
Mr. Burtch worked in construction as a crane operator and mechanic for more than 50 years. He retired two years ago.
He identified with St. Columbanus Catholic Church in Elgin and was a member of Local 793 of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE).
He enjoyed fishing, trapping, hunting and snowmobiling. He also made maple syrup.
Mr. Burtch is survived by his wife Evelyn Burtch, son Wayne Burtch of Elgin, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, and aunts, uncles and cousins from both the Burtch and Yeatman sides of the family.
He was predeceased by his parents.
Friends called at the Scotland Funeral Home, Elgin. The funeral was held October 2 in St. Columbanus Church, Elgin, with Father Pat Carty officiating. Burial followed in St. Columbanus Cemetery.
The pallbearers were Peter and Larry Mallen, Joe Yeatman, Dave Makee, Joe Kenney and Dave Buker. Honorary pallbearers were John Glover, Frank Taylor, Harold Perrin and Bill Franklin.
Memorial donations were directed to the Canadian Cancer Society.
Lyle James, 45
Lyle Gordon James, 45, died suddenly September 24, 2003 at his home in Brockville following a heart attack. His wife was at his side.
He was born May 7, 1958 in Brockville to David James and the former Leita Pepper. He was the third youngest of 12 children and grew up in the Addison area and attended Addison Public School.
He worked at Pineview Public School in Athens before beginning his longtime employment with Burnbrae Farms Ltd. in Lyn.
In the summer of 1982 he met Kathy "Katie" Green and they were married on September 3, 1988. They lived in Lyn for a short time before settling in Brockville.
He enjoyed watching and playing sports and in his younger years was a pitcher with the Lyn Merchants fastball team, which won the league championship in 1980. He enjoyed playing golf and was a member at various local clubs. He won the club championship at Cedar Valley in 2001.
He worked hard all his life and was a dedicated employee, but his real passion was his family. He was quick to help anyone in need and identified with the United Church.
Mr. James is survived by his wife Kathy and their son Kristofer Michael David "Kris" James at home, daughter Jody James (by a previous marriage) and husband Christian, of British Columbia, and their children, Tye, Chase and Brock.
Also surviving are his mother Leita James of Brockville and several brothers and sisters: Carl James and wife Diane of Addison, Dorothy Alguire and husband Robert of Brockville, Dale James of Brockville, Barry James and wife Margaret of Addison, Colleen Gray and husband Paul of Brockville, Janice McNish and husband Jeff of Lyn, Richard James and wife Jamie of Addison and Brenda James and fiance Joe Finucan of North Augusta.
Also surviving are his mother-in-law Elizabeth Bruegger of London, father-in-law David Green of Brockville, sisters-in-law MaryEllen Green of Woodstock, Linda Calcutt and husband Dan of Stratford, brother-in-law Bill Green and wife Charlene of Windsor and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He was predeceased by his father David James, sister Beverly McManus and brother Thomas James, as well as a brother Grant in infancy.
Friends called at the Irvine Funeral Home, Brockville, where on September 27 the funeral was held with Rev. Ron Horst officiating. Employees of Burnbrae Farms formed an honour guard, Gary Code played guitar and Sandra MacDonald played the bagpipes. Burial followed at Oakland Cemetery.
The pallbearers were Dave Barrington, Terry James, Jeff McNish, Bill Green, Dan Calcutt and Sheldon Laffoley. Honorary pallbearers were Mr. James's brothers Carl, Dale, Barry and Richard James.
Memorial donations were directed to the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Diabetes Association.
Michael Joyce, 36
PRESCOTT -- Michael John Joyce, 36, died at his home September 26, 2003, where he had lived most of his life.
He was born December 10, 1966, in Brockville to Michael F. Joyce and the former Marion L. Thorpe.
He worked as a gas station attendant. His main interests were spending time with his mother until her death at 66 in 2002 and helping decorate the home for Christmas, inside and out.
He is survived by his sister Sandra Joyce and fiance Brent Coville, and many aunts, uncles and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents.
Friends called at the Chris Slater Funeral Home, Prescott, on October 3. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Mark Catholic Church on October 4 with Father John Appelman officiating. A committal service followed at St. Mark's Cemetery, Prescott.
The pallbearers were Craig Rayvals, Rob Joyce, Joe MacDonald, Mike Shanahan and Larry and Art Joyce.
Elaine Gerow, 56
Elaine Gerow, 56, died as the result of an asthma attack October 5, 2003 at Brockville General Hospital.
She was born Sandra Elaine Eldridge on September 5, 1947, in Smiths Falls, the daughter of Charles Eldridge and the former Theresa Richmond. Her family moved from Smiths Falls in the 1950s and she grew up on Highway 2 and also on Halleck's Road. She attended public school in the Brockville area and then Brockville Collegiate Institute.
On July 22, 1967, she married Lyle Milford Hurlbert at the Wesleyan Methodist Church, Brockville. Her husband died in 1976 after a brief illness. Most of her life she lived on North Augusta Road at a property called "Dew Drop Inn." More recently she had moved to Brockville, living on Perth Street and apartments in town.
Her first job was at Wright's Laundry. Then she worked several years at the Automatic Electric plant. In more recent years she worked for Canpage Communications and then for many years at Falcon Security.
Her main interests were her family, grandchildren, playing the slot machines at the local casino, playing bingo, listening to old country classics, and talking to family and friends on the telephone. She also taught ceramics classes in her home for many years.
Ms. Gerow is survived by her son Rick Hurlbert of Prescott, daughters Julie Coles of North Augusta and Brenda Kendrick of Kemptville, grandchildren Brenden, Lyle, Justin and Madelaine, sister Ruth Sargent of Brockville and three brothers, Ron Eldridge of Brockville, Larry Eldridge of Fort Francis and David Eldridge of Toronto, as well as several nieces/nephews.
Also surviving are her special friend Bruce Cusson and aunts Mary Dowling and Anne Ronald of Brockville.
Friends called at the Irvine Funeral Home, Brockville, on October 7, and Bethel United Church members held a special service. The funeral was held October 8 in the Irvine Chapel, with Rev. Blair Paterson officiating. Burial followed at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Maitland.
The pallbearers were nephews Steven and Doug Sargent and Glen and Curtis Eldridge and close friends Barry Fox and Mike Kelly. The honorary pallbearers were Bruce Cusson and Donald Eldridge.
Memorial donations were directed to the Lung Association and the Alzheimer Society.
