William Millar "Bill" McCormack, 81, of RR 1, Brockville, died March 12, 2004 at Brockville General Hospital.
He was born December 9, 1922, in Brockville to William Alexander McCormack and the former Beatrice Victoria Nichols. He grew up in Brockville and when the Second World War broke out, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. He served overseas with the RCAF throughout the war.
On his return, he attended the University of Toronto, graduating with an honours bachelor's degree in history.
He then worked in administrative capacities with a number of large industrial companies in Montreal and Toronto, including DuPont and Massey-Ferguson.
In the early 1960s he returned to Brockville. Wanting to go into business for himself, he opened a grocery store, McCormack's, on Highway 2 East at Sharpes Lane, which he operated for a number of years.
He joined the instructional staff at St. Lawrence College when it opened and taught marketing in the business department until his retirement in about 1987.
He was an avid gardener and a real horse enthusiast. He owned hunting horses in Montreal, moved them to Toronto when he lived there, and brought them to Brockville as well.
Mr. McCormack is survived by two sisters, Frances Walby of Maitland and Jessie McCormack of Mallorytown, and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his sister Margaret Gaitskell (who lived in Toronto) and brother Harry McCormack (of Kingston).
Cremation was arranged through the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville. There will be a graveside service in the spring at St. James Cemetery, Maitland.
Memorial donations were directed to the Canadian Diabetes Association and the Brockville Animal Shelter.
Effie Burridge, 88
ATHENS -- Effie "Lauretta" Burridge, 88, a longtime Rocksprings resident, died January 27, 2004 at Brockville General Hospital. She had lived at Maple View Lodge since October 10, 2002.
She was born July 23, 1915 at Crystal, Ont., to Thomas Edmund Ferguson and the former Effie Maude Kinch. She was baptized in Providence Church, Crystal, by Rev. S. F. Tackaberry on October 15, 1915. (The church is now at Upper Canada Village.)
She was raised on a farm at Crystal and educated at Crystal Public School, where she completed Grade 8.
On September 4, 1935, she married George Francis Burridge in Frankville. From then on, she lived in Rocksprings, helping her husband on their farm and raising two children.
She attended Rocksprings United Church and belonged to the United Church Women's group until the church closed.
She enjoyed sewing, cooking, quilting, embroidery, music and dancing and loved people and her family.
Mrs. Burridge was predeceased by her husband on July 17, 2000 and by her grandson Darryl Burridge and great-granddaughter Sara Burridge.
She is survived by her son Ralph Francis Burridge and wife Helen of Rocksprings and daughter Linda Lauretta Delaurier and husband Bill of Glen Buell, as well as three grandchildren, Sheila Barnard and husband Dave of Ottawa, Maria Dalby and husband Paul of Oxford Mills and Paul Delaurier and wife Judy of Riverside, Calif., and eight great-grandchildren, Chet, Chelsea, Zachary, Samantha, Maegan, Connor, Aletha and Jordan.
Also surviving are her late grandson Darryl's wife, Sheila Burridge of Maynard, and a brother, W. Edmund Ferguson of Crystal, as well as several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased also by her half-sister Eva Irwin (who lived in Harlem, Ont.) and her half-brother Robert Lucas (who lived in Jasper, Ont.)
Friends called at the Judson Funeral Home, Athens, where on January 30 the funeral was held, with Rev. Dolly Dikens officiating. Burial followed at Greenbank Cemetery, Rocksprings.
The pallbearers were David Barnard, Paul Dalby, Paul Delaurier, George Lucas, Dan Bennett and Ken Maud.
Memorial donations were directed to Maple View Lodge and the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Stuart Vallentgoed, 46
Stuart Paul Vallentgoed, 46, died of esophageal cancer January 22, 2004 at Brockville General Hospital, after a two-year illness.
He was born April 10, 1957 in Brockville to Stuart G. Vallentgoed and the former Pauline Widdis. He was raised in Brockville and area and educated at Commonwealth and Westminster public schools and Thousand Islands and South Grenville secondary schools, graduating from the latter. Later he attended St. Lawrence College, Brockville, and earned certification as a registered practical nurse in 1990.
After high school, he worked as a short-order cook, then in sheet metal fabrication and at Simonds Saw (Universal Grinding Wheel), on Pearl Street East. He went to the Alberta oil fields and worked there for several years.
On February 17, 1989, he married Debra Marie MacIntyre in Brockville. Following his graduation from St. Lawrence College, he worked as a registered practical nurse/orderly full-time at Brockville General Hospital, doing part-time work also at Brockville Psychiatric Hospital for a few years. Most recently he worked at BGH in the housekeeping department.
He enjoyed his work, especially taking care of those in need. He advocated on behalf of the developmentally handicapped and the mentally ill.
He identified with St. John's United Church, Brockville. His main interests were his home and family.
He played minor hockey from ages nine to 14 and while at TISS played for the TISS Pirates. He enjoyed fishing on Bass Lake, camping and visiting garage sales for bargains. He owned motorcycles most of his life and loved riding them. He also enjoyed traveling to Alberta to visit his family.
Mr. Vallentgoed was diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus in January 2002, a condition resulting from years of untreated acid reflux disease. For the next two years he fought the esophageal cancer that resulted. He became an advocate for early diagnosis and treatment of acid reflux and educated anyone who would listen.
He is survived by his wife Debra Vallentgoed of Brockville, stepson Stacy Christopher James of Brockville, stepdaughter Tracy Lynne Severenuk (nee James) and husband Tony of Kemptville and daughter Samantha Kerrie Megan Vallentgoed at home.
Also surviving are his father, Stuart Vallentgoed and his wife Sherry of Bass Lake, and mother, Pauline Johnston and husband Albert of Lacombe, Alberta; sisters Lynn Anderson and husband David of Niton Junction, Alta., and Susan Vallentgoed of Lacombe, Alta.; stepsisters Dawn Morton of Red Deer, Alta., and Crystal Johnston of Lacombe, Alta.; and stepbrother Troy Johnston and wife Colleen of Lacombe, Alta.
In addition he is survived by his father-in-law Leland MacIntyre and wife Myrna of Brockville and mother-in-law Joan Kelly of Brockville; sisters-in-law Susan MacIntyre-Whaley and husband Ray Miller of Brockville and Nancy MacIntyre of Brockville; uncles John Widdis and wife Joanne and Arnold Vallentgoed, all of Kingston; and aunts Betty Comfort and husband Neil of Oregon, Barbara Renwick and husband Allan of Brockville, Sharon and Karen Vallentgoed and Jean Dack, all of Gananoque, as well as numerous nieces and nephews in Brockville, Lacombe and Kingston.
He was predeceased by a brother in infancy, paternal grandparents Simon and Mary Alta Vallentgoed, and maternal grandparents Percy Widdis and Ruby Widdis Foley.
Friends called at the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville, where on January 26 the funeral was held, with Rev. Myra Garvin, St. John's United Church, officiating. Burial will take place May 1 at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Maitland.
Memorial donations to the Canadian Cancer Society were gratefully acknowledged by the family.
Reta McGillis, 86
Reta McGillis, 86, a native of Algonquin, died of cancer February 9, 2004 at St. Lawrence Lodge.
Born at Domville on October 12, 1917, Reta Grace Knapp was the daughter of George and Cecile Knapp. She was raised at Algonquin and educated at Read's School, Bisseltown Road.
She married Peter McGillis on September 30, 1937 in Ottawa.
Mrs. McGillis worked in the dietary department at Ottawa Civic Hospital in Ottawa, retiring on her birthday in 1982.
Her interests were dancing, going for walks and growing flowers.
She is survived by one of two daughters, Virginia Grace McGillis Belleville and husband Victor, of Iroquois; four grandchildren, Victor Belleville and wife Pam of Aylmer, Que., Clifford Horner and wife Anita of Barrhaven, Ont., Glenn Horner of Bells Corners, Ont., and Ronald Belleville and wife Tammy of Calgary, Alta.; and five great-grandchildren, Valerie, Victoria and Wesley, all of Ottawa, and Shawnee and Alisa of Calgary.
Also surviving are three sisters, Jean Jefferies of Toronto, Vera Knapp of Oshawa and Stella Hitsman of Brockville, and one brother Lloyd Knapp of Brockville.
Mrs. McGillis was predeceased by her husband Peter, her daughter Freda Olive McGillis in infancy, sisters Olive Kline, Marjorie Tall, Blanche Harrison and Norma Wiltsie, and brothers Fred, Earl and Elmer Knapp and Alan Knapp who died in his youth.
Friends called at the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville, where on February 14 the funeral was held, with Rev. Bill Lunney of Ottawa officiating. Burial followed at Capital Memorial Gardens, Ottawa.
The pallbearers were grandsons Clifford, Glenn and Ronald and son-in-law Victor Belleville.
Memorial donations to St. Lawrence Lodge or the Canadian Cancer Society will be gratefully acknowledged by the family.
Eva Hamilton, 70
Eva Mae Hamilton, 70, died of a heart attack January 21, 2004 at Brockville General Hospital.
She was born August 17, 1933 in Charleville, where she was raised and educated. Her parents were Ward Stephenson and the former Addie Jenkinson.
Over the years she worked as a housekeeper at Brockville Psychiatric Hospital, a factory worker and a Red Cross worker. She retired 10 years ago.
She lived in Charleville, North Augusta, Brockville, Hamilton and Algonquin.
Her interests included walking, hide-a-word puzzles and fabric painting. She identified with the United Church.
Mrs. Hamilton is survived by her daughter, Tracey Tristram and husband Dan of Athens, two grandchildren and one sister, Lou Pittman of Algonquin, and several nieces and nephews, as well as a close friend Doris Fox.
She was predeceased by her parents, sister Doreen Ireland (who lived in Port Hope), and three brothers, Ivan Stephenson (Prescott) and Harold and Lloyd Stephenson (North Augusta).
The funeral was held January 25 at the Irvine Funeral Home, Brockville, with Rev. Mark Arnill of Maynard United Church officiating. Cremation was arranged.
Memorial donations were directed to the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society.
