On December 25, Winifred "Ann" Olson, 56, died at her home in North Augusta, surrounded by her family. (2004)
Born May 17, 1948 to her farmer/curler father Nelson and teacher/writer mother Winifred Kreager of Hamiota, Manitoba, she thoroughly enjoyed her rural upbringing on the family wheat farm with younger sister Lois. She graduated from Hamiota Collegiate in 1966. She earned her BA from Brandon University in 1969 and from 1969 to 1971 she worked as a social worker for the Children's Aid Society of Western Manitoba.
In 1971 she moved to Ottawa to pursue a two-year Masters of Social Work Degree at Carleton University. On July 7, 1973 she married Robert "Bob" Olson, a Brockville physics teacher, who says they saw each other as soul mates: his "rational, scientific psyche (being) a perfect complement to her random, emotional and sensitive mind."
From 1973 to 2001 Mrs. Olson worked as a front-line psychiatric social worker at the Brockville Psychiatric Hospital. She was an outstanding social worker. In 2001 she was nominated by 54 of her peers and was awarded the Annual Royal Oscar by the Royal Ottawa Hospital.
From 1985 to 1999 she was a part-time teaching master in the Health Sciences Department of St. Lawrence College. She gave many educational presentations on various aspects of mental health during her career and reached about 2, 400 students.
She was keenly interested in community service and sat on several boards. She was on the Multiple Sclerosis Society board of directors from 1996 to 2001 (chairman from 1999 to 2001), Brockville Friendship Centre board of directors from 1980 to 1998 (chairman from 1981 to 1984), and the Family Focus board of directors from 1985 to 1994 (chairman from 1989 to 1994).
From 1982 until her death she was an active member of the Canadian Federation of University Women. She chaired this group from 1987 to 1989, and from 1995 to 1996. She belonged to the French Club of Brockville from 1979 until 1984. She was very interested in reptiles and belonged to the Ottawa Amphibian and Reptile Club. She was newsletter editor from 1984 until her death and was made a life member of the club in 2000.
Her interests included gardening, turtles, theatre, writing, cross-country skiing, bicycling (5, 000 km in 2003), canoeing, traveling, photography, basketball, writing her cancer story to encourage other cancer patients, and most importantly, visiting and entertaining friends and family.
She was an avid supporter of the Thousand Islands Secondary School basketball program and could often be found cheering the teams on. In 1978 she started sponsoring the annual TISS Science Award and took great delight in presenting the award each year (the 2004 award was $1, 000).
Mrs. Olson is survived by husband Robert Olson of North Augusta; mother Winifred Kreager, formerly of Hamiota, MB; sister Lois (Kreager) Graham of Binscarth, MB; former brother-in-law Bruce Graham; mother-in-law Frances Olson of Edmonton; brothers and sisters-in-law Alan and Cindy Olson of Smiths Falls and James and Mary Olson of London, Ont.; a sister and brother-in-law Pat and Matthew Greenways of Edmonton; nephews Kreager, Collin and Anthony Graham, Chris and his wife Rebekah Olson, nieces Rebecca and Sara Olson, nephew Daniel Greenways, and great-nephews Leif and Patrick Olson.
She was predeceased by her father Nelson Kreager, her father-in-law George Olson, and nephew David Olson.
The funeral was led by Father Claude Delorme in St. James Anglican Church, Maitland, on December 29, 2004 with burial at St. Peter's Cemetery, North Augusta.
Although Mrs. Olson died of cancer she wished that memorial donations be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
John Hutton, 76
John Hutton, 76, died January 17, 2005 at Maple View Lodge, Athens.
He was born in Brockville October 4, 1928 to John Hutton and the former Mina Dorie. He attended Prince of Wales School, Brockville Collegiate Institute and Ryerson Institute, in Toronto, and worked at several jobs during his school years. Following his studies at Ryerson, he took a plumbing apprenticeship with H.S. Brown Co., Brockville.
He was employed by Ward Montgomery, a plumbing contractor in Brockville, and later joined Local 221 Union Plumbers and Pipefitters, Kingston. His work required traveling a wide area and ended with a six-month journey to Ticonderoga, N.Y.
He began work at Phillips Cables, Brockville, in 1972 as a pipefitter mechanic. During this time he obtained his gasfitter's licence through a course at St. Lawrence College. He was also a master plumber. He accepted early retirement in 1987.
After a brief period, he began work with G&S; Construction at the DuPont Maitland Site, as a pipefitter. He retired in 1990 due to declining health.
Mr. Hutton was married to the former Lura Marilyn Marcy in Trinity Episcopal Church, Boonville, N.Y., on October 12, 1959.
He loved the outdoors and had a lifelong interest in nature, spending countless hours in the woods observing wildlife and all living things.
He built his house on Centennial Road West, with the encouragement and support of his much loved uncle, Byron Dorie. It was completed it in 1958. He was proud of it and lived there until his death.
He enjoyed belonging to the Grey Nineties and especially enjoyed being a part of the group's yearly performance.
He loved playing pool and when he joined Seniors Club 85 on Elm Street, he formed a pool league that became very popular. He loved playing chess, having belonged to a chess club in earlier years, and bridge.
Earle Peach, who played the guitar, formed a small singing group at Club 85 and entertained at various seniors residences and nursing homes. On his death, the group continued with Peter Pulford on the guitar. Mr. Hutton was an enthusiastic member of both groups and particularly enjoyed mingling with the audience at the conclusion of their performances.
A member of Wall Street United Church, he was keenly interested in religion and creation. He read widely on both subjects and discussed them with various authorities.
He is survived by his wife Marilyn Hutton, daughter Kathleen Rosbottom and husband Frank, grandsons Adam and Scott, all of Pembroke, Ont., sisters Harriet Maloney and husband Edward and Mae Cormack and husband John of Trenton, Ont., and Evelyn Williams and husband Donn of Watertown, N, Y., brother James Hutton of Brockville and several nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents.
Friends called at the Irvine Funeral Home, Brockville, on January 21, before the celebration of his life, which was led by Rev. Dr. Alan Bennett of Wall Street United Church. A eulogy was delivered by his daughter Kathleen. Burial was at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Maitland.
The pallbearers were Arthur Joyce, Larry Joyce, Maurice Driscoll, Edward Maloney, Donn Williams and James Hutton.
Memorial donations were made to Maple View Lodge in Athens and Wall Street Village, Brockville.
Ellard MacMillan, 73
Ellard Hughie John MacMillan, 73, died January 30, 2005 at Kingston General Hospital.
Born in Timmins, Ont., December 27, 1931, he was the son of Hughie John MacMillan and the former Florella Convery. He grew up in the Timmins/Huntsville area and moved to the Addison/Frankville area in 1941. He attended the Hawks and Frankville public schools. In 1947 his family purchased the farm on MacMillan Road.
In 1951 he went to Toronto and worked at CN Rail before returning home in 1954 to the family farm.
On February 11, 1956, he married Doreen Mae Sands in Athens He and his wife moved to Ottawa for several years.
Over the years he worked at Casco and at Ottawa Valley Pump Service. He was a self-taught mechanic and operated his own garage for several years.
In 1967 he moved back to the family farm where he lived until his death. He worked at a few jobs before being hired by the Parke-Davis manufacturing plant in Brockville, where he worked as a set-up man in the packaging department. He enjoyed his co-workers and the time he spent with his friends at Parke-Davis. In 1991 he left Parke-Davis, due to illness and retired in 1997.
During his retirement he worked around the farm and developed his landscaping and woodworking skills. He was always busy in his shop, tinkering with something. He made several items his family members now enjoy owning.
Mr. MacMillan was a longtime, active member of Centennial Road Standard Church. He looked forward to his prayer group, church meetings and time spent with his Bible study group. He spent his whole life teaching and guiding his family.
He is survived by his wife Doreen MacMillan of the Addison area, daughter Vicki "Diddy" MacIntyre and her husband Darwin "Junior, " of the Addison area, and three sons, Rick and wife Roberta of Lower Beverly Lake, Jim and wife Judy of Charleston Lake and Scott and wife Carole of Charleston Lake.
Also surviving are 10 grandchildren, April Borzellino and husband Dan of Toronto, Darci MacIntyre and fiancé Scott of Jellyby, Bobby, Tyler and Bailey MacMillan of Lower Beverly Lake, Jade and Josh MacMillan of Charleston Lake, Krista MacMillan of Athens, Brianna and Alexis MacMillan of Charleston Lake, and five great-grandchildren.
Also surviving are brothers Allan and wife Barb of Smiths Falls, Eddie and wife Shirley of Frankville, Harvey and wife Carol of Athens and Bob and wife Lee of Charleston Lake; sisters Dorthy Johnston and husband Gib of Smiths Falls, Barb Lennon of Athens, Shirley DeJong and husband Peter of Charleston Lake and Lois Leach and husband Bill of Spencerville.
He was predeceased by his parents, son William Bruce MacMillan, sister Illa MacMillan in infancy, brothers Kenny (who lived in Regina) and Leonard (Toledo) and nephews Gregory Kelsey and Perry Hammond.
The funeral was held February 2 at Centennial Road Standard Church, with longtime friend Pastor Laurence Croswell officiating. The pallbearers were sons Rick, Jim and Scott, son-in-law Junior MacIntyre, and grandsons Bobby, Tyler and Joshua.
Memorial donations were directed to the Standard Church Building Fund.
Anna Ferguson, 96
Anna May Ferguson, 96, who trained as a nurse but became a partner in her late husband Don Ferguson's business and political careers, died February 1, 2005 at her Brockville home, with her daughter Carolyn at her side.
She was born April 1, 1908, in Chantry to Philip Derbyshire and the former Elizabeth Stevenson. She was raised in Harlem and loved to skate, play the pump organ in her home and read. She was educated in Harlem's grade school and went to high school in Smiths Falls.
She first came to Brockville in 1927 to begin training as a nurse at Brockville Psychiatric Hospital but never completed her training, because she chose to marry, and at that time student nurses were not allowed to marry.
On August 11, 1930, she married Donald R. Ferguson, in Prescott. When first married, she lived on her husband's family farm. The couple moved to Brockville and then back to the country when they bought their own farm, just east of Brockville.
A housewife and mother, she also worked as a partner in the couple's home-based business, Don Ferguson Sand and Gravel, beginning in the 1940s. Her husband entered politics in Elizabethtown township in 1953 and she supported him through his 35-year political career (31 years in office).
Mrs. Ferguson joined the Order of the Eastern Star and belonged for more than 50 years. In her middle life she bowled with the Eastern Star.
Throughout their married life, she and her husband enjoyed cottage life; being near the water was always a joy for her.
She loved reading, until her eyesight failed in recent years, hockey and horse racing, as well as flying (she made her last flight when she was 88). Her main interest was always her family.
She moved back to Brockville about 15 years ago. She identified with Wall Street United Church, in Brockville.
Mrs. Ferguson is survived by two sons, Don Jr. and wife Susan of Calgary and Alan and wife Lynn of Newmarket; two daughters, Carolyn of Ottawa and Marilyn Crowley and husband David of Perth; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Also surviving are several nieces and nephews and four sisters-in-law, Pat Derbyshire of Kingston and Ersula Shaffer, Bessie Ferguson and Kaye Ferguson, all of Brockville.
She was predeceased by her husband Don on August 9, 2004, and by her daughter Bettina, brother Daniel Derbyshire and half-sisters Lula Eyre, Gertrude Cooper and Effie Fournier.
Friends called at the Barclay Funeral Home, Brockville, on February 4, with a representative from the Eastern Star attending the visitation. The funeral took place February 5 in the Barclay Chapel, with Rev. Dr. Alan Bennett officiating and giving the eulogy. Burial followed at Oakland Cemetery.
The pallbearers were Robert and Dean Ferguson, Dave Firman, Gord Smith, Larry Loyer and Dave Jones. The honorary pallbearers were Ersula and Ernie Shaffer and Eileen and Len Reid.
Memorial donations were directed to the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
Kay Guilboard, 67
Kay Guilboard, 67, died January 29, 2005 at St. Vincent de Paul Hospital with her family by her side.
Born Kathleen Mabel Fodey on August 25, 1937 in Plum Hollow, she was the daughter of the former Margaret Ireland and her husband Andrew Fodey. She grew up and attended schools in the area.
After leaving school, she worked as a secretary at McNeil Transport.
On February 7, 1959, she married Douglas Guilboard at St. Francis Xavier Church, Brockville.
After her marriage, she raised three children, Brian Andrew, Brent John and Deborah Anne. After they were older, she drove a school bus for Brockville City Bus Lines for a number of years.
She enjoyed spending time with her family and grandchildren, doing puzzles and traveling. She had visited Texas, the east and west coasts and numerous Caribbean countries.
Seven years ago she became ill with progressive supranuclear palsy. She lived her last three years at St. Vincent de Paul Hospital.
Mrs. Guilboard is survived by her husband Doug Guilboard; sons Brian Andrew and Brent John Guilboard; daughter Deborah Jonkman and husband Al; two brothers, Don Fodey and wife Melvina, and Leo Fodey and wife Mary; sisters Marie Conlon, Phyllis Stanzel and husband Don, and Gail Fodey and husband Gary; and four grandchildren, Megan and Kristen Jonkman and Brianna and Luckas Guilboard.
She was predeceased by her parents.
Friends called at the Irvine Funeral Home, Brockville. The Liturgy of the Christian Funeral was celebrated February 1 at St. Francis Xavier Church, with Father Brian Price officiating. Burial followed at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Maitland.
The pallbearers were Gord Hall, Ralph McMullen, Brian Guilboard and Leo Fodey.
