SPENCERVILLE -- After an accident at his home, Robert "Paul" Carmichael, 36, died at the Ottawa Civic Hospital on August 13, 2004.
A Centennial baby, he was born September 8, 1967, at Kemptville District Hospital to Robert Theodore Carmichael and the former Betty Ann Dutfield. He spent the first seven years of his life in Oxford Station and was baptized at East Oxford Presbyterian Church. In 1975, he moved with his family to Ventnor where they operated a Holstein dairy farm. He attended North Edwardsburgh and Centennial public schools and graduated from North Grenville District High School, Kemptville.
He owned and operated an auto body shop, Carmichael Collision, for many years.
As a young lad, he was a member of the South Grenville 4-H calf club. He also enjoyed acting, taking part in a play that was presented by the Fence Post Players. He also enjoyed playing baseball, hockey and soccer.
Mr. Carmichael had a great interest in history and was proud of his Scottish ancestry. Robbie Burns night at the Brockville Legion was one of his favourite evenings as he always got his fill of haggis.
He enjoyed cruising around in his 1974 Dodge Challenger, playing hockey, going bullhead fishing or deer hunting, and spending time with others, young or old. He had vitality, energy and an infectious smile.
He was ready to give of himself right to the very end, donating his organs so that others could live.
He is survived by his parents Robert and Betty Carmichael of Spencerville, grandmothers Margaret Dutfield and Eleanor Carmichael; brothers Craig and wife Kelly of Cardinal and Shawn and wife Paula of Spencerville; and nieces/nephews Austin, Kelsee, Kiana, Danika, Makenna, Caleb and Nevaeh.
He was predeceased by his grandfathers Harry Carmichael and Lawrence Dutfield.
Friends called at the Grant Brown Funeral Home-Purcell Chapel, Spencerville, on August 16.
The funeral took place August 17 at Carmichael Collision, 508 Pitt Road, Spencerville. Rev. Allan Litchfield of Shanliwood Community Church officiated. Brian Lawless played the bagpipes; Heidi Woolford played the piano and sang a hymn; brothers Craig and Shawn Carmichael and longtime friend Bruce McKinnon gave eulogies and Paula Carmichael read a poem.
Burial followed at Adam's Cemetery, Ventnor, with his brothers leading the funeral procession in his yellow Challenger.
The pallbearers were Bruce McKinnon, David Sadler, Jonathan Levett, Danny Powers, Claude Hiltz and Bill Van Camp.
Memorial donations to charities of the donors' choice were gratefully acknowledged by the family.
Elisabeth Borgatta, 87
Elisabeth Borgatta, 87, a retired registered nurse, died in her sleep August 7, 2004 at Villa Marconi, Ottawa.
She was born Elisabeth Martha Zwahlen on July 31, 1917, in Mischalkowitz, Germany (in what was then German Poland). Her parents were Albert Zwahlen, a Swiss national, and Martha Maschewski, a Polish national.
She grew up in Bern where she and her family experienced significant poverty and malnutrition after her father's business partner stole company funds. Using remaining assets to pay off debts left the family destitute, all of this during the Depression.
She went to the French cantons of Switzerland during the 1940s, during the Second World War, to learn French and there embraced the Christian faith. She also began training to become a nurse.
In LeLocle, Switzerland, in 1949, she met Elio Borgatto and they were married on February 4, 1951, in Bern, Switzerland. They immigrated to Canada the same year, arriving in Montreal. They had no family here so were on their own in a strange country, far from home, where they had to learn the language and earn a living. Mrs. Borgatto learned English while completing her nurse's training in Montreal. In 1952 they moved to Brockville.
For 30 years she worked as a registered nurse in the maternity ward at Brockville General Hospital. She especially appreciated those who took the time to thank her for caring for their babies.
She became a passionate photographer, learning to use a camera initially so she could provide a photographic record of the birds her husband carved. She loved nature and was charmed by Brockville, the St. Lawrence River and the surrounding countryside, all of which she photographed many times. One of her photographs of the United Counties courthouse, taken from King Street at night, was selected for publication as a postcard.
Because of malnutrition in her youth, Mrs. Borgatto had many long-term ailments as an adult, many of which were painful, but in spite of these and the difficulties of adapting to a new country, she showed neither bitterness nor regret about her life.
She is survived by two sons, Frederic Borgatta of Ottawa and Daniel Borgatta of Toronto, and a granddaughter, Olivia.
She was predeceased by her husband Elio in 1986, her father (1952) and her mother (1986), and two sisters, Gerda Stucki and Elfriede Wepf (one in 1984 and the other in 2002).
Friends called at the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville on August 9 before the funeral, which was held in Brockville Wesleyan Church, with Rev. Turvery officiating. Her son Frederic gave the eulogy. The pallbearers were Arnold Wilson, Gerald Shackles, Clifton Clow, Gordon Douglas, Bev Corrigan and Wayne McKnight.
Burial took place at Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa, on August 31.
Don Ferguson, 96
Don Ferguson, 96, former reeve of Elizabethtown township and warden of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, died August 9, 2004 at his home in Brockville, with his wife and daughter at his side.
He was born Donald R. Ferguson on April 27, 1908, at Stones Corners, the son of Robert Ferguson and the former Pearl Ferguson (no relation). He grew up working on his parents' farm and had to end his formal education early to help on the farm.
He had a strong work ethic. The summer he was 17 he travelled out west to work the harvest on a great-uncle's farm. Returning home, he worked for several Brockville coal companies, including Reynolds Coal Co.
On August 11, 1930, in Prescott, he married Anna Derbyshire. They lived on his family's farm and then in Brockville for several years while he worked for the coal companies. Then in the late 1930s they bought their farm on the Second Concession, at North Augusta Road, an area that came to be known as Fergusons Corners. In the mid-1940s, Mr. Ferguson began a very successful home-based contracting business called Don Ferguson Sand and Gravel, with his wife as business partner.
He was a self-made man, never letting his lack of formal education keep him from fulfilling his dreams and living life with a passion.
His political career in Elizabethtown township was launched in 1953 and spanned 35 years, during which time he served 31 years in office as councillor, deputy reeve or reeve. In 1966 he was warden of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.
He retired his business in 1974 and continued in politics until 1988, always true to his Conservative party roots.
During his retirement he remained actively involved in three lodges, the Shriners, Masons and Odd Fellows, in all of which he had been a member for more than 50 years. He was proud to have served in 2002 as noble grand for the Odd Fellows chapter in Brockville. Even in his 80s he enjoyed riding on the Shriners' float in parades.
Having been on several boards at a local hospital and at St. Lawrence Lodge, he continued in retirement to visit patients and residents at both institutions.
In 2003 he was a recipient of the Queen's Jubilee medal for years of volunteering in the community.
Until he was almost 95 he continued to drive, play euchre (at Senior Citizens Club 85), attend political events, visit family and friends and shovel snow off his laneway. A longtime member of Wall Street United Church, he attended regularly up to 2003.
He liked to tend his flowers and his lawn and was one of the few men who still raked leaves with his suit coat on.
Mr. Ferguson is survived by his wife Anna, sons Don and wife Sue of Calgary, Alta. and Alan and wife Lynn of Newmarket, and daughters Carolyn Ferguson of Ottawa and Marilyn Crowley and husband David of Perth, as well as five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his sister Ersula Shaffer and husband Ernie of Brockville, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, a daughter Bettina, and five siblings, Helen, Mervin, Merrill, Meta and Fred.
Friends called at the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville, where memorial services were held August 12 by Salem Masonic Lodge No. 368 GRC and Brock Lodge No. 9 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
The funeral was held in Wall Street United Church on August 14, with Rev. Dr. Alan Bennett officiating and giving a tribute to Mr. Ferguson. Leeds-Grenville MPP Bob Runciman, a longtime personal and political friend, gave the eulogy, daughter Marilyn read a poem she had written and grandchildren Janet, Lisa and Rob read the Scriptures.
An honour guard was formed by members of the Brockville Shrine Club and burial followed at Oakland Cemetery.
The active pallbearers were Rob Ferguson, Dean Ferguson, Don Empey, Ernie Harper, Dave Jones and Larry Loyer. The honorary pallbearers were Richard Byrd, Raymond Perrin and Len Reid.
Bob Haggart, 82
Bob Haggart, 82, died August 12, 2004 at St. Vincent de Paul Hospital after a two-year illness with leukemia.
Born Robert Seymour Haggart on December 30, 1921 in Fallowfield, Ont., he was the son of John Leslie Haggart and the former Myra Diamond Victoria Collings. His family moved to Lyn when he was very young and he went to school there and to high school in Brockville.
He travelled around Canada looking for work anywhere he could during the last part of the Depression and the early years of the Second World War. He joined the Army to serve with the Royal Canadian Artillery, but was discharged due to severe pneumonia prior to going overseas.
He married Lorraine Beatrice Stewart on March 19, 1945 in Brockville. They lived in Brockville until 1955, when they moved their family to Prescott. In 1963 they returned to Brockville.
Upon returning from the army and after recovering from pneumonia, he started a lifelong career driving trucks of all shapes and sizes, carrying commodities too numerous to list. When he retired 16 years ago from Puritan Benefit, in Maitland, he was responsible for the safe and timely delivery of hospital gases for most of northeastern North America.
He logged millions of miles across North America and received numerous awards for safe driving from his peers, employers, union and other industry groups.
Mr. Haggart loved music; he played both the accordion and piano and had a fine tenor voice. He also loved Scottish music and had a special passion for the bagpipes; he played the snare drum (side drum) in pipe bands whenever possible.
He enjoyed watching Jeopardy on television, being on or near the St. Lawrence River and spending time with his grandchildren, as well as hockey, snooker/billiards and reading. He identified with Christ United Church, Lyn, thus retaining his connection to the village where he grew up.
He is survived by his wife Lorraine Haggart of Brockville, son Robert Allan "Bob" Haggart of Newmarket, Ont., and daughter Patricia Eileen Haggart of Brockville, as well as three grandchildren.
Also surviving are four sisters, Rev. Mary Haggart of Riverhurst, Sask.; Elsie Stevens and husband Cliff of Brockville and Jean Gifford and husband Leonard, all of Brockville; and Margaret Anderson and husband Art of Mississauga; and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents, son Wayne Leslie Haggart and two brothers, George Haggart and John Haggart.
Friends called at the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville, on August 15 before the funeral in the chapel there. Rev. Dolly Dikens, Athens United Church, officiated as Rev. Jean Baker, of Christ United Church, Lyn, was ill. Burial followed at Bissell Cemetery, Algonquin.
The pallbearers were Garry Brewin, Michael Stewart, Michael Durant, William Stewart, Paul Flynn and Christian Scenna.
Memorial donations were directed to the Leukemia Research Fund and the Cancer Society of Canada.
Marguerite Steele, 99
Marguerite Steele, 99, a former registered nurse, died February 3, 2005 at St. Lawrence Lodge.
She was born July 22, 1905, in Delta to William James Morris and the former Ketha Gilroy (who had been born in Athens). Raised and educated in Delta, she attended continuation school there for two years and also received her diploma in piano from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
She then trained as a registered nurse in Smiths Falls at Chambers Memorial Hospital, later the South Unit of the Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital. She graduated in 1928 and worked in Smiths Falls as a registered nurse.
On January 12, 1929, she married William Raymond Steele in Ottawa in a ceremony performed by Rev. Alworth Eardley. The couple lived in Philipsville where Raymond operated a flour and seed business. While living there, she was a charter member of the Beverly Rebekah Lodge No. 278, in Delta. She also served as a district deputy for the Rebekahs.
The Second World War began in 1939 and in 1942, when her husband enlisted, she moved to Halifax for the remainder of the war. In 1946 the couple returned and lived in Brockville before moving to Lancaster, in the Cornwall area. There she lived until 1977.
While in Lancaster, she was an active member of St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church. She loved playing piano and organ and for many years played organ for the church. She also taught piano and organ.
Her husband died June 1, 1975 and two years later she moved back to Brockville, where she lived until her death. She enjoyed playing bridge, knitting baby sets for Brockville General Hospital, and playing bingo. She also did a little painting and some needlepoint. By her own admission, she liked to talk about anything and loved to tell stories.
She never had children but is survived by three nephews, William Morris and wife Beverley of St. Paul, Alberta, Leonard Morris and wife Beverly of Collins Bay, and Neil Morris and wife Faye of the Delta area, as well as great-nephews and great-nieces and great-great nieces. Also surviving are dear friends Pat and Bill Warren of Maitland.
Besides her husband and parents, she was predeceased by three brothers, Harry Morris and wife Nettie (who both lived in Delta), Leonard Morris (Delta) and Clifford Morris and wife Marion (Chantry), and a nephew, Ronald Morris.
The Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville, handled funeral arrangements. A private graveside service was held at Oakland Cemetery, with Rev. Bev Lindsey officiating.
