Tyler Boutilier
OPP officer dies in crash
By TRACEY TONG - Staff Writer
PRESCOTT -- Funeral arrangements have been made for the Prescott OPP officer who was killed in a head-on collision over the long weekend.
Over a thousand OPP officers will be expected at the funeral service for Grenville OPP Constable Tyler Boutilier, which will be held at the United Church in Havelock on Thursday at 10 a.m., said OPP East Region Headquarters Sergeant Kristine Cholette.
Boutilier, 32, will also be remembered at the Canadian police memorial service held at the end of September, said Cholette.
"He was just an outstanding officer," Boutilier's detachment commander Staff Sergeant Brent Hill told the Ottawa Sun. "He was highly respected."
Boutilier died at Kingston General Hospital late Sunday night after sustaining "extensive body trauma," Cholette said, when his police cruiser was involved in a near head-on collision on Highway 15 near Seeleys Bay at around 3 p.m. on Sunday.
Despite attempts to avoid the collision, Boutilier's southbound vehicle was struck by a northbound Chevrolet Impala which had crossed into his lane.
The 29-year-old woman who was driving the vehicle remains in Kingston General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries today. Her name has not been released.
The adult male and two children who were in the back seat of her car were not injured.
A member of the OPP's Emergency Response Team, Boutilier, who joined the OPP in September 2000, was on his way to back up a search by the K-9 unit at the time of the collision.
"Tyler was a really good guy," said Cholette. "He loved what he was doing. He was only an officer a short period of time, but he worked really hard at becoming a member of the Emergency Response Team. He was very well respected in the police community, his detachment and by the public. He loved what he did."
Boutilier leaves his wife of eight months, Lori Bates. The investigation is continuing and charges are pending, Cholette said.
"Const. Boutilier was a popular and well-respected officer," said Chief Supt. Jay Hope, east region commander.
"He was a team player who was looked to as a leader. He will be greatly missed by his fellow officers and his community. This is a very sad day for the OPP."
The tragedy has left many on the force shocked, Cholette said.
"Everyone deals with it differently," she said.
"There are some who are taking it very hard. We have called other officers in to work the detachment area to give them that leave that some of them need right now. So we're definitely taking care of them."
Edna Spicer, 79
PRESCOTT -- Edna Eileen Elizabeth Spicer, 79, retired Black and Decker employee, died April 10, 2004 at Brockville General Hospital.
She was born December 31, 1924 in Bastard Township to Norman Jones and the former Eliza Jane Code. She married Ted Spicer on June 7, 1947 in Athens.
Until her retirement, she was a line worker at the Black and Decker plant in Brockville. Her interests included gardening, shopping, travelling, game shows and visiting.
She is survived by two sons, Roger and Jerry and his wife Brenda, and one daughter, Sharon Rose Dewan and her husband Mike, as well as grandchildren Curt Dewan, Angie and friend Bob Coville, Ted and Garrett Spicer, and great grandchildren Jenny and Tiara Coville. Also surviving is her sister Mae Davis.
Mrs. Spicer was predeceased by her husband, parents, brothers Ed, Clarence, Mansel, Joe, Mel and Howard Jones, and sisters Clara Whalen and Nina Allen.
Friends called at the Chris Slater Funeral Home, Prescott, where on April 14 the funeral was held, with Pastor David Downing officiating. Burial followed at Maynard Cemetery.
The pallbearers were Curt and Mike Dewan, Ted Spicer, Bob Coville, Doug Moore and Billy Hodgkinson. The honorary bearers were Jim Marshall and Ron Jones.
Memorial donations were directed to the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Canadian Cancer Society.
Dorothy Moore, 79
PRESCOTT -- Dorothy Moore, 79, died April 17, 2004 at Wellington House, Prescott.
She was born July 29, 1924 in Pleasant Valley, Ont., to Robert Wallace and the former Elizabeth Gilmer. She married James G. Moore and stayed home as a housewife and mother, enjoying her garden, bingo and playing cards at Walker House.
She is survived by her son James Moore and wife Darlene and by her three daughters, Janice Hare and husband Lloyd, Joanne Moore, and Roseanne Seabrook and husband Fred, as well as eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents, husband and brothers Ken, Herb and Mansel Wallace.
Friends called at the Chris Slater Funeral Home, Prescott, where on April 20 the funeral was held, with Rev. Ian McLean officiating. Burial followed at Blue Church Cemetery.
The pallbearers were Robert Juby, James O'Brien, Rodger Toupin, Lawrence Wallace, Gilles Trudeau and Ronald Jones.
Memorial donations were directed to the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Parkinson Foundation.
Dorothy Quinn, 80
PRESCOTT -- Dorothy Margaret Mary Quinn, 80, died at the Mayfield Retirement Home in Prescott on March 30, 2004.
She was born January 29, 1924 in Edwardsburgh Township, near Spencerville, the daughter of John Mitten and the former Helen Delaney.
She spent her working years as a bookkeeper with the Department of Transport in Prescott, before moving to Brockville after her marriage to Paul Quinn on August 23, 1952 at St. Lawrence O'Toole Church, Spencerville.
She was involved in the Catholic Women's League, worked as a volunteer with St. Vincent de Paul Hospital and took an active interest in a variety of political endeavours. She served in several capacities during federal and provincial elections over the years.
Mrs. Quinn was predeceased by her husband Paul, a longtime employee of Bell Canada.
She is survived by her daughter Karen of Toronto, her son Wayne and his wife Terri of Dartmouth, N.S., and her son Brian of Victoria, B.C., as well as two grandchildren, Katie and Sean of Dartmouth.
Also surviving are two brothers, Peter Mitten of the Mayfield Residence in Prescott and Frank Mitten of Brockville, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Friends called at the Chris Slater Funeral Home, Prescott, on April 1. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Mark's Church, Prescott, on April 2, with Father John Appelman as celebrant. Brian Quinn delivered a tribute at the conclusion of the Mass.
A committal service will be held at a later date in the spring. The pallbearers were Sean Quinn, John and Tom Mitten, Tom, David and Stephen Maville and John Shahan.
Donations were directed to Hospice of Providence Palliative Care at St. Vincent de Paul and the Canadian Cancer Society.
Lorraine Pratt, 63
PRESCOTT -- Lorraine Pratt, 63, died of lung disease March 26, 2004 at Brockville General Hospital with her family by her side.
She was born Margaret Lorraine Rooke on June 13, 1940, in Prescott. Her parents were Jack Rooke and the former Eva Dawson. She married Lawrence Leonard Pratt on July 23, 1960, at St. Paul's United Church in Prescott.
She lived all her life in Prescott and was a housewife and mother. She loved spending time with her family and friends and enjoyed her many winter getaways to Myrtle Beach. She enjoyed "Bunka with the Babes" (doing Japanese bunka embroidery - using a punch needle and synthetic thread - together with a group of women friends each month).
Mrs. Pratt is survived by her husband Larry, son Richard of Ottawa, daughter Shelly Orr and husband Bobby of Johnstown and granddaughters Brittanie and Ainslie of Johnstown.
Also surviving are her mother-in-law Irene Pratt of Victoria, B.C., and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents and her sister, Barbara Fischer.
Friends called at the Chris Slater Funeral Home, Prescott, where on March 29 the funeral was held, with Rev. Myra Garvin, of St. John's United Church, Brockville, officiating. Cremation was arranged and a committal service will be held at Sandy Hill Cemetery, Prescott, later in the spring.
Memorial donations were directed to the Lung Association and Hospice of Providence Palliative Care.
Charles 'Chick' Kirkby, 78
PRESCOTT -- Charles William "Chick" Kirkby, 78, of RR 3, Prescott, died June 24, 2004 at Brockville General Hospital.
He was born September 6, 1925 in Prescott to Roy Seymour Kirkby and the former Mary Anna Hall.
At age 18 he joined the U.S. Army and served a period of time in occupied Japan. After returning home, he married Erma "Bobbe" Poaps on July 22, 1950 at St. Mark's rectory, Prescott.
He enjoyed working on the river. For 11 years he worked on the Canadian Pacific Railway car ferry from Prescott to Ogdensburg. He also worked on the St. Lawrence Seaway for a number of years and was a 23-year employee of the Canadian Coast Guard at its Prescott base.
His passion in life was sports, particularly hockey and baseball. He served as unofficial groundskeeper at the Prescott ball diamonds and was very proud of his own "Field of Dreams," the Chick Kirkby Little League Ballpark, built in his honour.
He coached numerous baseball and softball teams in the area and was a very proficient player in his earlier days.
In 1993 he was recognized for his contributions over the years when, at the rebirth of the Brockville and Area Sports Hall of Fame, he and his brother-in-law Leo Boivin were among the first inductees in the newly reopened hall.
A final tribute was given him as his funeral procession passed the Chick Kirkby ballpark when members of the Prescott Pirates formed an honour guard, holding up baseball bats and hockey sticks to salute his life and contribution to sports.
His family and home on the St. Lawrence River were very important to him. His newest adventures were gardening and playing stick hockey and baseball with his great-grandchildren.
Mr. Kirkby is survived by his wife Erma Kirkby; two sons, Mark Kirkby and his wife Laurie and Dean Kirkby; grandchildren Ryan, Justin, Josh, Nicole and Jennifer; and two great-grandchildren, Tyson and Kennedy.
He was predeceased by his parents, two daughters and one son, brothers Lorne, Ken, Art, Bern and Carl Kirkby and sisters Jean, Marg and Patsy.
Friends called at the Chris Slater Funeral Home, Prescott, on June 25. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Father John Appelman on June 26 at St. Mark Catholic Church, Prescott. Burial followed at St. Mark Cemetery, Prescott.
The pallbearers were sons Mark and Dean, grandsons Ryan, Justin and Josh Kirkby, nephew Paul Stethem and family friend Steve Tzaferis. The honorary pallbearers were the Johnstown Ladies Softball coach Les McAllister and ballplayers Debbie Gray, Marilyn Rupert Scott, Shauna Ward and Pattie Robinson Boswall.
Memorial donations were directed to the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Grenville-Prescott Little League.
Lana Vail, 54
Lana Marie Vail, 54, of RR 2, Prescott, died July 18, 2004 at Brockville General Hospital.
She was born July 2, 1950 at Kingston to Purvis Stewart and his wife, the former Mary Ann Abel.
On July 29, 1967, she married George Vail at Christ Church, Lords Mills, and they had two sons.
She was employed as a line worker and machine operator at Black and Decker and then as a sales clerk in the Charm Jewelry store and Northern Reflections at the 1000 Islands Mall, Brockville.
Her main interest was her family. She enjoyed cooking for her family and friends, having Sunday get-togethers and being a grandmother ("NeeNee") to her two grandsons. She loved to read, do lawn work and grow flowers. She also liked long Sunday drives in the countryside. She was very fond of the family's 16-year-old dog, Chelsea.
Mrs. Vail is survived by her husband George; two sons, Brent and wife Lisa and Jeffrey and wife Karen; and grandchildren Joshua and Jacob.
Friends called at the Chris Slater Funeral Home, Prescott, where on July 21 the funeral was held, with Rev. Gerry Ring officiating. Burial was at Blue Church Cemetery on July 24.
The pallbearers were David Green, George Willard, Dave McKewen, Jim McKewen, Jerry Hermer and Doug Anderson. The honorary pallbearers were Dave Dobbie, Bruce Harrison, Ron Holman, Doug Struthers, Bill Thake, Harold Grier, Herb Scott, Dave Mack, Mark Pergunas and Stephen Fournier.
Memorial donations were directed to Hospice of Providence Palliative Care and the Canadian Cancer Society.
