Bob Kearney, 71, died at home on September 22, 2003, surrounded by his family.
He was born August 21, 1932 in Brockville to Edmund Kearney and the former Veronica Leeder. He grew up in Ballycanoe, attended high school and studied at the Brockville Business College.
He worked first on the railroad and then sailed the Great Lakes on the Canada Steamship Lines.
In 1957 he married Marjorie Mustard at St. James Church, Ballycanoe.
He worked at the Automatic Electric plant on Strowger Boulevard and then for the Swedish firm Ekberg Canada Ltd. on Laurier Boulevard. He travelled to Sweden on the company's behalf.
The work he most enjoyed was driving a float truck for Ken Miller Construction. After retiring, he continued in trucking part-time with friends and Mr. Miller, and he enjoyed taking his grandsons in his big truck in Brockville parades.
He was president of the Brockville Lions Club in 1985-86 and enjoyed trips to Antigua with fellow Lions and exchange visits home. He and his wife travelled coast to coast in Canada with friends and took golf holidays at Myrtle Beach.
He was an avid reader of books and was known for his wit and extraordinary memory. He enjoyed sitting on the porch and in the sunroom, exchanging tales and laughter with young and old. He loved old cars and was proud of his '49 Chev, which he kept polished up for rides in the country and parades. He also volunteered at the Lyn Museum.
Mr. Kearney is survived by his wife Marj Kearney; two sons, Randy and Rob and wife Joyce; and grandchildren Brendan, Brock and Hannah.
Also surviving are his sisters, Sister Lucy Kearney S.P. and Patricia Burns and husband Bill, and brothers Frank Kearney and Michael Kearney and wife Sharon.
He was predeceased by his parents and a sister Helen in infancy.
Friends called at the Irvine Funeral Home, Brockville, on September 24. The Liturgy of the Christian Funeral was celebrated at St. Francis Xavier Church, Brockville, with Father Brian Price officiating and Archbishops Meagher and Spence in attendance. Burial followed at St. James Cemetery, Ballycanoe.
The pallbearers were Greg and Steven Kearney, Terry Burns, Andrew Guilboard, Ray Bowen and Mick Lafave. Honorary pallbearers were Don Summers, Clark Root, Cliff Churchill, Gerry Belanger, Ken Miller, Jim Dack and Everett Scot.
Memorial donations were directed to the Hospice of Providence Palliative Care and Heritage Place Museum in Lyn.
Betty Merkley, 63
FERGUS -- Elizabeth "Betty" Merkley, 63, formerly of Brockville, died of heart failure December 15, 2003 at the Caressant Care Nursing Home in Fergus, Ont. after an illness lasting several years.
She was born Elizabeth Halladay on May 22, 1940 in Brockville. Her parents were Gordon Halladay and the former Audrey Orange. She moved to the outskirts of Stones Corners in her early childhood and began school there. Later, after the death of her parents, she was cared for by her late aunt Gwendolyn Charter (nee Orange) in Ottawa and continued school there.
In 1958, she married Lawrence Merkley Sr. Leaving Ottawa, she returned to the Brockville area where she lived until she was 38. In 1978, three years after divorcing Lawrence Merkley Sr., she moved to Guelph with her dear friend Alton "Ben" Becker, whom she had met in Cardinal. They lived as common-law spouses for 25 years.
Mrs. Merkley worked at RCA in Prescott and Automatic Electric in Brockville. Since her move to Guelph, she was primarily a homemaker, although she held part-time jobs.
She enjoyed gardening, surfing the Internet and chatting with people all over the world. In recent years, she returned to school to study computers and English to better equip her for her hobbies. She also spent time painting and finishing woodworking projects started by Ben.
Other interests included collecting salt and pepper shakers and talking to her family. She was known for her love of poetry and her words of encouragement sent to family and friends.
She had 13 grandchildren, two great-grand children and many step-grandchildren.
Elizabeth is survived by Ben Becker; her children, Lawrence "Larry" Merkley of Prescott, Brent Merkley and wife Carolyn of Prescott, David Merkley of Guelph, Darryl Merkley and wife Anne of Prescott and Laurie Randle and husband Douglas of Brockville.
Also surviving are 13 grandchildren, Bradley, John, Stephanie, Nicole, Jordan, Cameron, Jenna, Michael, Kristina, Jacqueline, Mitchell, Tessa and Spencer, and two great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Kristianne Vandine.
She is also survived by brothers Wilfred Halladay and wife Wilma of Lyn, Keith "Sam" Halladay of Brockville, Donald Halladay and wife Laurence of Brockville and sisters Grace Hutton of Brockville and Anna Ballantyne and husband Robin of Brockville.
Six step-children also survive her, Rose, Marilyn Pharoah and husband Verne, Kathy Alessio, Heather Martin and husband Keith, Joe Becker and wife Mena and John Becker, as well as many stepgrandchildren.
She was predeceased by her parents Gordon and Audrey Halladay, sisters Irene Halladay and Eleanor Gibson and brothers Harry, Robert, Reginald and Kenneth "Charlie" Halladay.
Friends called at the Graham A. Giddy Funeral Home, in Fergus, Ont., before the funeral, which was held on December 19.
Burial will take place in the spring at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Maitland.
Memorial donations were made to the Canadian Diabetes Association and the Lung Association.
Nelson Leach, 82
KEMPTVILLE -- Nelson James William Leach, 82, of Spencerville, died peacefully in his home on November 30, 2003.
He was born February 26, 1921 in Owen Sound to William James Leach and Margueritta Barnes Anastasia Emes.
He grew up in the Muskoka Region and at the age of 19 joined the Canadian Navy and served in the Second World War. While in the navy, he met his wife of 38 years, Lucy Strickland. When the war ended, he pursued his dream of becoming an engineer for Canadian Pacific Railway and moved his family to Sudbury, Ont.
Later, he bought a farm and moved his family to Ventnor Road in Spencerville. He and his wife raised a large family and their home was known to all as "the farm." Many happy hours were enjoyed by family, friends and neighbours alike. Music and card games were always being played. He was a gifted fiddler and his sons John and Tom inherited his musical talents.
Mr. Leach is survived by his former wife, Lucy (Strickland) McLean of Maitland; his children Shirley Dyks and husband John of Prescott, Karen Dykes and husband Russ of Arizona, Bill Leach and wife Lois of Spencerville, Lucy Maichen and husband Bob of Edmonton, John Leach and wife Donna of Winchester, Tom Leach and wife Valda of Spencerville, Stanley Leach and wife Carrie of Edmonton and Violet Chase and husband Randy of Oxford Mills; 21 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
He is also survived by his sisters Dawn Hilliard of Midland and Lorna West of Mississauga and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his father and mother, infant son Nelson, twins Milton and Marion, and son Jim and by his brothers Milton and Stanley and sister Oneida.
Friends called at Grant Brown Funeral Home-Purcell Chapel, Spencerville on December 3, where members of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 604 gathered for a service. The funeral was held in the chapel of the funeral home on December 4, with Bill Rabey officiating. The eulogy was read by granddaughter Linda Powers and memories of their grandfather were also shared by grandson Johnny Dyks and granddaughter Kathy Phillips. His sons John and Tom played some of his favorite songs. Burial was at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Maitland.
The pallbearers were grandsons Johnny Dyks, Craig Leach, Mitch and Dusty Leach and Tyler and Travis Leach. The honorary pallbearers were his grandchildren Linda Powers, Kathy Phillips, Valeria Maichen, Myranda Collins, Sarena Strader, Katrina Leach, Amber, Ruby, Donald and Jamie Duncan.
Memorial donations were directed to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or a charity of choice.
Arthur McNamara, 93
Arthur Thomas Joseph McNamara, 93, a retired Automatic Electric employee, died of heart failure January 16, 2004 at Brockville General Hospital. He had been ill only three months.
He was born November 10, 1910 in Brockville to Charles Edward McNamara and the former Mary Elizabeth Turner. He grew up in Brockville and attended St. Francis Xavier School.
His first wife, Gladys Lillian Hunt, died in 1939; his second wife, Dorothy Irene Sargent, died in 1999.
Over the years he worked at Smart's foundry, then at Phillips Cables and finally at Automatic Electric, where he remained until he retired in 1975.
He identified with Trinity Anglican Church and was a 63-year member of the Brock Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
He was an avid sportsman, enjoyed wood working and loved to talk about Brockville history with anyone who would listen.
After retiring, he and his wife travelled to Hawaii, Mexico, England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, Switzerland, Germany, Florida, and from Nova Scotia to Vancouver, British Columbia. They also went on a Caribbean cruise.
He is survived by his son Arthur Thomas McNamara and his wife Jean of Gatineau, Quebec, and his daughter Janie Rose Baldini and her husband Ted of Brewerton, N.Y.; six grandchildren, Larry, Patrick and Michael McNamara, Susan Baker, Scott Pope and Melissa Gyerrant; and nine great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his brothers, Clifford, Clarence, Charlie and George, and by his sisters, Mabel Polly, Greta Rusland, Kathleen Watts, Lilly and Annie McNamara.
Friends called at the Irvine Funeral Home and Chapel, Brockville, before the funeral on January 19, with Canon Michael Reid of St. Peter's Anglican Church officiating. Burial followed at Oakland Cemetery.
The pallbearers were Larry, Michael and Patrick McNamara, Geoff Baker, John Graham and Mike Barr. Honorary bearers were Jonathan McNamara and Kyle Baker.
Geert Van Dyke, 93
Geert Van Dyke, 93, died November 4, 2003 at the Broadview Nursing Centre, Smiths Falls.
He was born January 19, 1910, in Bergum, Holland, to Fred Van Dyke and the former Jitske Vander Kooi. He grew up in Friesland, Holland, and married Ytje Hoeksma on October 31, 1936, in Friesland.
In 1952 he immigrated to Canada and lived in Prescott, Brockville and Smiths Falls over the years.
While in Holland he was a tanner. After coming to Canada, he worked on the DuPont construction site at Maitland and then as a gardener in Regina, Saskatchewan. He returned to Brockville, where he accepted a position at the Recorder and Times newspaper, from which he retired 28 years ago.
Mr. Van Dyke identified with Bethel Pentecostal Church in Smiths Falls. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, doing jigsaw puzzles and watching hockey games and wrestling on television.
He is survived by four sons, Fred of Brockville, William and wife Mae of Brockville, Gary and wife Nellie of Addison and Martin and wife Rita of Addison; one daughter, Tina Alliston and husband Ron; 13 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and two sons-in-law, Gordon Taylor and John Michi.
He was predeceased by his wife Itje, his parents, daughters Minki Michi and Jitske Taylor, daughter-in-law Mary Ann Van Dyke, brothers Gosse and Tjeerd and one sister, Marijke.
Friends called at the Irvine Funeral Home, Brockville, on November 6. The funeral took place November 7 at Roselawn Memorial Gardens Tribute Centre, Maitland, with Pastor Michael Middlebrooke officiating.
Memorial donations were directed to the Canadian Cancer Society.
