PRESCOTT -- Doreen Mills, 83, died February 13, 2004 at Prescott.
Doreen Stuart Tear was born April 12, 1920 in Quebec, Que., to Joseph Tear and the former Florence Carter.
She married Alfred Mills on August 31, 1946 in Windsor, Que., and became a housewife and mother.
Mrs. Mills is survived by her husband Alfred of Prescott; two daughters, Brenda Foley and husband Kenneth of Timmins and Kathleen Sevigny of Montreal; son Richard Mills and wife Linda of Brampton; and six grandchildren, Paul and Christopher Mills, Rachel and Aaron Foley and Jacqueline and Marc Sevigny.
Also surviving are her brothers Reggie and Kenneth Tear and sister Violet LaRochelle.
She was predeceased by brothers Jimmy and William Tear, sister Nancy Fredette and son-in-law Trevor Sevigny.
Friends called at the Chris Slater Funeral Home, Prescott, where on February 16 the funeral was held, with Rev. Gerry Ring officiating. Burial will be at Maynard Cemetery in the spring. Her grandchildren served as pallbearers.
Memorial donations were directed to the Canadian Cancer Society.
Johnston 'Jack' Watson, 73
Johnston Stewart Watson, 73, known as "Jack, " died of cancer January 25, 2004 at the Brockville home of his son Fred, after a six-month illness.
He was born December 2, 1930 in Brockville to Robert Somers Watson and the former Margaret May Edgeley. He was educated at Dulcemaine School and Reid's School, but left to work on the family farm.
He worked for Ontario Hydro during his early years, then for a time worked at Smart's Foundry pouring hot metal and making lawn mower bodies and diecast frying pans.
For many years he was employed as a construction worker with numerous companies, including Fred Ferguson Construction, Sullivan Construction, Fraser and Brace, DuPont Canada, and a firm where he laid forms and helped build Highway 401 through Brockville to Maitland and overpasses for North Augusta Road, Lyn Road and Maitland Road.
He helped build Commonwealth School, an expansion of Brockville General Hospital and the disposal plant, and Ottawa Airport.
He tied steel with friend and co-worker Roger Young, worked as a watchman on weekends, and finally was employed in road work for Augusta Township, remaining for 14 years until an injury to his back led to his retirement.
He identified with the United Church and enjoyed spending time with his family, watching old western movies (especially John Wayne movies), listening to country music, gardening and listening to news and current events.
He is survived by five sons and four daughters: John Watson and wife Judy of Kingston, Judy Shaw and husband Mike of Hamilton, Doug Watson and wife Heather of Gananoque, Debbie Selleck and husband Calvin of Spencerville, Ron Watson of Algonquin, Rick Watson and wife Kim of Kingston, Susan Buchanan and husband Ian of Harrowsmith, Bob Watson and wife Roberta of Johnstown, Fred Watson and wife Marilyn of Brockville and Sandra Heyman and husband Bert of Maitland.
Also surviving are his siblings Lorraine Williams, Lloyd, Henry, Edward and David Watson, Diane Towe and Eva Beckstead, 18 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his wife, the former June Plunkett, an infant daughter Trudy in 1966, his parents, brothers John, Roderick, Bernard "Bud" and Donald Watson and sister Frances.
Friends called at the Irvine Funeral Home and Chapel where on January 27 the funeral was held, with pastor Phil Phillips of Maynard Pentecostal Church officiating. Burial will be at St. James Cemetery, Maitland, in the spring.
Vera Preston, 87
Vera Preston, 87, who for 32 years was director of nursing at Brockville General Hospital, died of cancer February 25, 2004 at St. Vincent de Paul Hospital. She had been in failing health the past few years.
Born in Delta March 8, 1916, Vera Josephine Grace Preston was the daughter of Frank Preston and the former Hannah Estella Irwin. She was raised in Chantry and Delta and attended public schools there and Delta Continuation School.
In 1935 she came to Brockville where she studied nursing at the Brockville General Hospital School of Nursing, graduating as a registered nurse in 1938. She was the gold medal winner and received an award for general proficiency. She was also a graduate of the Canadian Hospital Association, in hospital organization and management.
Following graduation from BGH, she accepted a position at Brockville General Hospital as head nurse of a surgical floor and then moved on to become head nurse in obstetrics. She relieved the operating room supervisor during vacations.
For several years she assisted in teaching nursing students and then was made assistant director of nursing. During her time, the BGH registered nursing assistant (RNA) course was established.
In 1949, Miss Preston became director of nursing at Brockville General and continued in that demanding position until her retirement on March 31, 1981. She lived in the Comstock Building, the nurses' residence on Emma Street.
Although she was a tiny woman, only five feet two inches tall, she was a woman "whose sense of humanity belies her diminutive frame, " as Wendy Cuthbert, head of the intensive care unit, put it at Miss Preston's retirement dinner.
"She was always on duty - that was her whole life, " recalls Betty MacDowell, who attended that retirement dinner and wrote a profile of "Vera J." for The Recorder and Times.
"She was devoted to the hospital and was like a mother to the nurses."
Miss Preston set high ethical and professional standards for herself and expected her nurses to do the same. She taught a course in ethics and professionalism for nursing students.
"That's why we turned out to be good nurses, " says Shirley Powers, president of the Nurses' Alumnae Association of Brockville General Hospital. "It was great living in residence. She put us all on the straight and narrow."
VON executive director Ruth Kitson, one of Miss Preston's students, says that even when she (Kitson) was working in Toronto for 20 years, Miss Preston continued to follow her career
"She was a real mentor. She taught a course called professionalism - she lived it. We really knew what was expected of us when we graduated. She followed our careers. She gave me really good, sound advice right up to the last time I saw her. She was true to the profession. We were really blessed to have her."
"She was a strict disciplinarian, " says her secretary of 15 years and longtime friend, Betty Burgess, "but she was respected for it. The sign of that is the large number of nurses who turned out for her funeral."
As director of nursing, she was always ready to talk with staff when they had questions or problems.
"She was a truly remarkable woman, who set an example for all of us and was an inspiration to work for, " says Mrs. Burgess.
Miss Preston was a member of the Nurses' Alumnae Association of BGH and served as its president for two years. She was made an honorary member in 1981.
She belonged to the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario and after 40 years of membership was awarded the distinction of member emeritus. She had served a term as secretary and treasurer of the regional section of the RNAO.
She was also a member of the Canadian Nurses Association and the Nursing Administration Section, Ontario Hospital Association, and served as regional president for two years.
In addition to professional organizations, she belonged to numerous community groups in Brockville. She served a term as president (or chairperson) in each of the following: Wall Street United Church Women; board of directors, YM-YWCA Brockville; The Shepherd's Centre, Brockville; The Arthritis Society, Brockville; Advisory Committee, School of Nursing and Nursing Assistant Centre, St. Lawrence College, Brockville campus; and Eleanor R. Earle Endowment Fund, Wall Street United Church Women.
She had a long, dedicated association with St. John Ambulance, Brockville, serving on its board of directors. In 1973, she was admitted to the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem as a Serving Sister, in a ceremony in Ottawa at which then Governor General Roland Michener, Prior of the Order, officiated. She was made an Officer Sister of the Order in 1979 and Commander, St. John Ambulance Priory of Brockville in 1986.
Miss Preston was also a member of the Blue Bird Club, Arthritis Society, Brockville; served on the board of directors of St. Lawrence College (Kingston, Brockville, Cornwall); was a member of St. Lawrence Valley Council of Brockville and Ogdensburg, N.Y.; served on the board of directors of Wall Street United Church, Brockville; and was a volunteer with the Brockville General Hospital Auxiliary.
In 1990, she was made an honorary member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority in Brockville.
Her hobbies were knitting, crocheting, watercolour painting, crafts, reading and cooking. She also enjoyed traveling to Florida. She always enjoyed spending time with her family and was "a devoted daughter, sister, aunt and great-aunt, " says her niece Beverley Wallis.
Vera Preston is survived by her sister Mary Colbert and husband Harold of Delta; two nieces, Beverley Colbert Wallis and husband Donald of Gananoque and Donna Robinson Deriger and husband Alan of Ottawa; nephew James Colbert and wife Janice of Toronto; great-nephews Scott Wallis and wife Malena, Greg Wallis and wife Christa and Trevor Wallis and wife Tracy, Jason Colbert and Preston Deriger, and great-niece Jade Colbert; and great-great-nieces Natasha and Abby Wallis and Katelyn Wallis.
She was predeceased by her parents and her sister Orla Robinson.
Friends called at the Irvine Funeral Home and Chapel, Brockville, on February 27, and members of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority held a memorial service.
Her funeral was held February 28 at Wall Street United Church, Brockville, with Rev. Dr. Alan Bennett officiating. Memories of her were shared by Beverley Wallis, Jim Colbert, Donna Deriger and Marguerite Hintz. A guard of honour was formed by members of the Nurses' Alumnae Association of Brockville General Hospital.
The pallbearers were Scott, Trevor and Gregory Wallis, Jade and Jason Colbert, and Preston Deriger. The honorary pallbearers were Betty and Gordon Burgess, Helen and Ronald Jackson, Evelyn and William Lockhart, Jean and Arthur Farrow and Harold Sheridan.
Cremation was at Roselawn Crematorium, Maitland, and burial will take place at Capital Memorial Gardens, Nepean, at a later date, when a private service will be held.
Memorial donations were directed to the Memorial Fund of the Nurses' Alumnae Association of Brockville General Hospital and to the Wall Street United Church Memorial Fund, as well as charities of the donors' choice.
Ronald Crozier, 88
WESTPORT -- Ronald Crozier, 88, who spent his childhood and retirement years in Westport, died January 26, 2004 at his home.
His early years on the farm influenced his entire life and wherever he worked or lived, the welfare of rural communities and farmers was his main concern.
Robert Ronald Irwin Crozier was born in North Crosby Township near Westport on October 15, 1915, the son of Archie Crozier and his wife, the former Emma Forrester. He attended the local country school, "Bells, " on the Stone Road and the Westport Continuation School in the village.
He helped out on the home farm, then in 1938 he enrolled at Kemptville Agricultural College, graduating in 1940.
The following year he married Margery Vance of Peterborough and Westport in a ceremony at St. Peter's Anglican Church in Brockville. The couple took up residence in Brockville but he soon joined the service and they moved to Canada's west coast, where he served five years as a Royal Canadian Air Force radar operator at Ucluelet, B.C.
After the war he attended the Ontario Agriculture College in Guelph, graduating in 1948 with a bachelor of agriculture science degree. He spent several years as an agriculture representative in various locations and while he was head of the department in Stormont County, his career took another direction.
He was offered the position as associate editor of a popular weekly farm magazine, The Farmers' Advocate, published in London, Ont. While there, he was given the opportunity to represent The Advocate as one of three Canadian journalists to travel to Germany, where they were guests of the mayor of Berlin.
When The Advocate ceased publication, Mr. Crozier became editor of The Western Ontario Farmer, also a weekly paper. Then, during the 1960s, he purchased Dunn's Home Hardware store in London, which he operated with his family. After selling the store and retiring, he indulged in his hobby of refinishing furniture.
In 1996 the Croziers returned to their roots, purchasing a home on Whalen Street in Westport, where he spent the remainder of his life. He enjoyed attending auction sales and working on his furniture purchases.
A lifelong Presbyterian, he joined Knox Church in Westport in 1932, transferring to southwest Ontario and then back when they returned to Westport. For a number of years he served as chairman of the board of managers.
He is survived by his wife Margery; three daughters, Julia Maynard and husband David of Sudbury, Ont., Jane Timmins and husband Ernie of Aylmer West, Ont., and Susan Enerson and husband Michael of Bloomington, Illinois; and five grandchildren: Michael Vance Maynard and wife Frances of Toronto; Robbie Maynard of Grand Prairie, Alta.; Sarah Saska of Aylmer; and Jon and Paul Enerson of Bloomington, Ill.
Also surviving are his brother Stuart Crozier of Westport and a number of nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by one brother Bill and Bill's twin, Catherine, who died in infancy; a grandson, Cameron Armstrong Maynard; and a son-in-law Bruce Saska.
A memorial service was held January 30 at Knox Presbyterian Church, Westport, and was conducted by Rev. Bruce Cossar, with members of the church's board of managers in a position of honour. Several family members recalled memories of Mr. Crozier; elder emeritus Orville Forrester read the Scriptures; Brother Thomas Dorland, Chaplain of the Upper Rideau Legion, Branch 542, Westport, offered a prayer; and music was provided by Betty Mitchell, Jan Neal, granddaughter Sarah Saska and Ruth Lemke.
Burial will take place at Knox Presbyterian Church Cemetery in May, with a private family service.
