Category: S

Honoured by Brian and Pat, Hal and Linda, Randy and Valerie and Daren and Brenda in recognition of over 63 years of marriage and a lifetime of memories in North Bay.

Honoured by Brian and Pat, Hal and Linda, Randy and Valerie, and Daren and Brenda in recognition of over 63 years of marriage and a lifetime of memories in North Bay.
Orval and Jessie were both born in North Bay in 1927 – Orval on March 11th and Jessie on July 30th. Jessie grew up on a farm in the Wasi area near Callander before moving to North Bay to find work as a young adult. Orval has lived in North Bay all his life.
Orval began a 44-year railway career in 1943 with the Canadian Pacific Railway as a carman apprentice in North Bay. His father, who also worked at the railway, passed away suddenly around this time. After his apprenticeship, Orval continued to work as a carman and then as a car foreman until his retirement in 1987. Orval was a well-liked and respected foreman known to his co-workers only as “Sully”.

Orval and Jessie met on a double date with their older siblings, since Orval’s brother, Ken, was dating Jessie’s sister, Ella. Both couples ended up marrying with Orval and Jessie‘s wedding being on June 18, 1948.

They brought up a family of four sons – Brian, Hal, Randy and Daren – on Princess Street, where they developed lasting friendships with several of the neighbouring families. As young children, their sons remember their father leaving for the afternoon shift as they arrived home from school. As train schedules were fairly precise, he would often arrive home for a quick dinner, returning to the rail yards in time to service the next scheduled arrival.

Jessie is renowned within her family for her baking. Every one of her nine grandchildren – Catherine and Matthew; David and Daniel; Jennifer, Jessica and James; Rebecca and Geoffrey – has their favourite treat, whether it is apple pie, muffins, cookies, or strawberry jam. All of the family dinner gatherings have what seems to be an inexhaustible supply of “goodies” to choose from.

In retirement, Orval has continued to work on the railway – volunteering his time, along with several other retired railway workers, to maintain the heritage railway, where he has been honoured with a signpost marked “Sullivan 100”. Orval also enjoys carpentry. He has been known to make wooden toys for his grandchildren, to help his sons and neighbours with their renovation projects, and, more recently, build birdhouses for every child in his daughter-in-law’s primary school class.
Orval and Jessie continue to enjoy spending time with their family, which has grown to include grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Since the railway has been a big part of their lives, both are proud of the waterfront development of the railway land that started in the 1980s with a promenade along the shoreline and continues to this day.

Honoured by his family and friends.

Husband, Father, Grandfather, Son, Brother, Uncle and Friend. These words describe the man we are honoring with this leaf, but there was so much more to Jay Stroud.

He was a Jack of all trades who knew how to put an engine together in his sleep, and knew how to fix anything. If you had a problem, he could solve it with his hands, his laughter or Duct Tape. If he didn’t know the answer, he would find you a book that would have the answer.

Jay Stroud was born in Streetsville, Ontario in 1949. The youngest of 5 children born to Alma and James Stroud, he was always given hand me downs and was the last one in the cold bathwater, but never complained. He would often tell stories about his youth and there was something about the way he told them that made you feel like you were there. He didn’t have it easy, but he grew up knowing the value of a dollar, and had a work ethic like no other.

Jay had quite an interesting youth. He and his brothers were considered troublemakers back in the 60’s. They raced cars and did what boys do, much to the frustration of their mother, who would often be found pulling them apart during a tense stand off. At 24, Jay lost his father due to illness and quickly became the rock that everyone counted on. A strong man, Jay became the husband and father his own father would have been proud of.

A diesel mechanic all his life, he worked hard to support his family. His knowledge of Mack trucks was extensive and everyone knew it. He was the man you would call if your truck needed a fix and many people in town respected his opinion and hard work. He understood Customer Service and took great pride in the quality of his work.

He also knew how to laugh and have fun. He was a natural comedian who was the life of the party. If there was a camera around, he would often ‘Ham’ it up and create cherished memories that we all hold so dear. He had a language all his own, and lucky for us, we all spoke it.

Jay was a wonderful husband and best friend to Cathy for 42 years. Having met when they were just kids in high school, they went through this life as a team. They raised 3 kids and did it with an ease and warmth that only true love brings. Although things were not always easy they faced every challenge together and came out stronger and happier on the other side.

As a father he was brilliant. He was always kind and thoughtful, and respected his children. He let them spread their wings and fly and always let them know that they had roots and a home to come back to. There was so much laughter surrounding him. His ability to calm every fear, and solve every problem made him the best Dad to his children.

Jay adored his four grandchildren. Each and every one of them carries traits of him with them into the future. He was proud of them and treasured the moments he shared with them. Whether making hot chocolate, sitting around a Bon Fire or just hanging out reading a story, he was always fun to be around. He always had a joke or a funny story and a warm hug if needed. He loved them all dearly and was loved in return.

Jay could always be found puttering around his garage, which he named “The Lodge”. He loved it in there and would often invite friends over to sit and enjoy the scenery and sunshine that he loved so much. In fact, no invitation was required. If you were in the neighborhood, you were always welcome to pop in for a cold one and some conversation about fishing, a good joke and maybe some tall tales about your youth.

Whether he was just taking a nice long walk or tossing a ball with the dog, he enjoyed being outside, even though mosquitoes seemed to love him, much to his frustration. It was pretty rare that he would be found inside the house on weekends. There was always something to do outside, unless there was a NASCAR race on and of course, being a true “meat and potatoes” man, he would never miss Sunday’s traditional Roast Beef dinner.

He watched every NASCAR race he could and even attended some official events. For many years he raced locally at the Speedway, and had trophies to show for his hard work. He liked classic cars as well, and often talked about his 1956 Red Chevy he owned in his youth. A photograph of it still hangs in a frame on the wall.

He was well known for being an honest, hard working man and he would be proud of that legacy. He leaves behind a wife who loved him and a family that adored him. This world is not the same without him, and our family hopes that this leaf and story will give those that knew him some comfort and those that didn’t some idea of who he was and will always be.

We love you and miss you.

Cathy, Jason, Wes, Lori, Holly,
Cody, Ashley, Parker, Tyler,
family and friends

Jay Stroud: Forever in our hearts
1949-2010

The Broken Chain

We little knew that morning that it was your last day,
In life we loved you dearly, in death we do the same.
It broke our hearts to lose you, you did not go alone.
For part of us went with you, the day you left us.

You left us peaceful memories, your love is still our guide,
And though we cannot see you, you are always at our side.
Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same,
But as we leave this earth, one by one, the chain will link again.

I’d like the memory of me
to be a happy one.
I’d like to leave an after glow
of smiles when life is done,
I’d like to leave an echo
whispering softly down the ways,
Of happy times and laughing
times and bright and
summer days.
I’d like the tears of those who
grieve, to dry before the sun,
Of happy memories that I leave
When life is done.

Honoured by Jessie Scott

Thank you for purchasing a Leaf of Inspiration in honour of Cliff and for supporting your Waterfront Park project. Story to follow.

Honoured by her family

Thank you for purchasing a leaf in honour of Margaret Smallwood and for supporting your Waterfront Park project. Story to follow.

This Pergola Leaf is dedicated to the 25th Wedding Anniversary of Bob and Frankie Syme on October 4th, 2011.

Our wedding theme was to celebrate:
“The First Day of our Lives Together.”

John Robert Syme and Frankie Ann Barham (nee Legault) were united in marriage on Saturday, October 4th, 1986 at St Andrew’s United Church, North Bay, Ont.

Maid of Honor – Leona Dunn (friend of the bride) Best man – Earl Gummeson (brother-in-law of the groom) Ushers – Darrell Levitt (friend of the groom)
Terry Barham (son of the bride)

Officiates: Rev. Jim Sinclair and Rev. Dr. Bill Kitto

Organist: Sharon Paris
Soloists: Joan Gummeson (sister of the groom)
Richard Levesque (friend of the bride and groom)

Our parents celebrated with us. Effie and Gene Legault were with us and Marjorie and John Syme were with us in spirit.
Our children Terry Barham, Leslie Hendry ( Barham ), Carolyn, Evelyn and Jocelyn Syme also shared in our joy.

We thank all our friends and family for blessing us with their presence and sharing in our wedding day.

Our 25 years together has been a life of sharing, caring and having fun. We have travelled, we have learned and we have enjoyed each other’s company.
There have been many blessings and also very sad times.
We now have six grandchildren:
Michael Hendry – December 3rd, 1982
Matthew Hendry – July 2nd, 1985
Jacqueline Hebert – October 18th, 1991
Danielle Hebert – November 19th, 1993
Aidan Bellamy, March 7th, 2003
Olivia Bellamy, January 17th, 2005
We lost a precious granddaughter Candace Cara Hendry, Aug. 27th, 1988 – Aug.
8th, 1996 in a house fire. Frankie’s parents and Earl Gummeson have passed away also. We now have four great grandchildren.

We enjoy our family, friends St. Andrew’s church family and especially each other. We enjoy the North Bay Waterfront and are pleased to be part of the Pergola project.

Unknown to us, a good friend, Neil Benninger, told us St Francis of Assisi is also celebrated on our wedding day of October 4th.

Throughout our 25 years, we have tried to live by his prayer:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Born August 14, 1907, to Arthur and Mary Jane (McCauley) Tuck, Helen Ruby, was the third daughter of five who grew up at 680 Bell Street in North Bay. Her youngest sister, Isabel Smith, who is 85 years young, is the only remaining sister. She is living in North Bay at present.

At a very early age, Helen decided that she wanted to be an opera singer and was fortunate enough to be able to take singing lessons when she was a teenager. She had acquired her love of music from her father who enjoyed playing ’78 records on the old gramophone and listening to classical music on the radio. Her father, a conductor on the T&O Railroad (later the ONR), was a kind and gentle man who also fostered her love of sports.  Helen excelled at Track and Field while attending North Bay Collegiate.

After graduating from High School, her hopes of becoming a professional singer were dashed when her parents steered her away from what they called an “unstable artistic future”. She was encouraged instead, to go into nursing at Sick Children’s Hospital in Toronto. After receiving her cap, she contracted osteomyelitis and was forced to curtail her training.  She returned to North Bay and, once her health improved, she worked for Dr. Crowe in his office on McIntyre Street.

She started singing in St. John’s Church choir and joined the Grace Gibbard Women’s Auxiliary in 1924.  She eventually joined the Victor Chorus, which became the North Bay Choral Society, where she continued to sing for many years.

In 1925, Helen met Herbert William Scott who was attending Teacher’s College in North Bay. On May 20, 1930, they were married and had four children: Stanley Herbert (deceased), Robert John, Helen Joanne and Beverley Jean.

They raised their children for the first sixteen years in Capreol, while Herb worked on the railroad and then moved back to North Bay to 459 Harvey Street in 1948.

In those happy times, the children enjoyed rushing home from school to have their senses assaulted by some wonderful aroma of baking, cooking, pickling and jelly-making. Her specialties were Jelly Braid and chili, but hundreds of pies, cakes, stews, soups and casseroles magically appeared from the kitchen onto the dining room table!

In fact, everything she tried became a joyous endeavor – embroidered tea towels, pillow cases, smocked dresses, petit-point pictures and chair cushions. She had inherited her mother’s love of baking, sewing and handicrafts.  Eventually, the walls of her home were all adorned with her paintings and handiwork.

Helen and Herb also joined the Eastern Star where they became Matron and Patron at one point and loved traveling all over Canada to attend many functions.  By this time, because Herb had retired, they extended their travels to Europe, visiting their daughter, Joanne, in England and Beverley, in Ireland.

They eventually decided to join the “snowbirds” in Florida every winter so Herb didn’t have to miss any golf. They maintained a mobile home in Dade City for over twenty years.  Helen
continued to sing in the church choir in Florida for six months of the year.

Ahead of her time, Helen was environmentally and politically astute and constantly wrote to members of Parliament for improvements to the regulations concerning the environment.
Eventually, the United Nations contacted her in 1998 and asked her to be an ambassador.  Though flattered, she had to decline because, at the age of 90, “the traveling required would have been
too much” for her.

Helen died on April 9, 2003, in her 96^th year, after a brief struggle with cancer.  For most of her life, she lived happily and prospered, all the time keeping her home here in North Bay.  She dearly loved her eleven grandchildren and thirty-three great-grandchildren. Helen inspired all
those whose lives she touched.

Honoured by Jacqueline Simpson and Family.

Bert was born and raised in Christian  Valley, where he attended school and participated in the chores at the family farm.  His Grandfather, Samuel Simpson, one of the early settlers in the area, built his home in 1880 on what is now known as Simpson Hill.  Later on, his father George Simpson, settled below the hill in Christian Valley.  Bert was a natural entrepreneur and his determination contributed to making him a successful businessman.

In 1952, he started in the automobile business selling Willis Jeep for Northland Equipment Supply Co. followed by seven years at Pitman Motors, the Chrysler Dealer, where he became one of the five major Salesmen for the province of Ontario for three consecutive years.  By 1960, he was ready to open his own Used Car Business as Bert Simpson Motors Ltd.  The first franchise he acquired was Renault in 1963, eventually followed by Datsun until 1976, when he became an AMC/Jeep Dealer.  In 1984, he opened a second Dealership, Gateway City Imports, to represent the Hyundai
franchise.  Finally in 1994 after being involved for 42 years in the car business in North Bay, Bert retired.  During those years he was a past president of the North Bay Automobile Dealers Association and on Dealer Advisory Boards for each franchise that he has held.  His success can be traced back to his hard work, organizational ability and merchandising skills.  He was a man who enjoyed connecting with people, never forgot his roots and remained a country boy at heart with a great appreciation for the rich heritage of the area where he spent his life.

An avid sportsman, he enjoyed fishing, hunting, snowmobiling and skiing but his greatest passion was flying.  He owned several aircraft and flew them enthusiastically between 1973 and 1991 to commute to the family cottage in the French River area as well as several cross country flights into Quebec and to Toronto Island.

He was dedicated to his community.  In the early years he sponsored local hockey teams and curling bonspiels and was a member of the West Ferris Lions Club.  He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge #617, and the Rorab Shrine Club where he was supportive of the functions, and fundraising activities.  Bert was a former Fund Raising Chairman for the Canadian Cancer Society.  In retirement he very much enjoyed his contribution as a board member for the Nipissing Township Museum.

He was the proud and loving father of Lori (Michael Prior), of Westlake Village, California, Barb (Terry Turl) or Port Perry and Shelli (Don McLeod) also of Port Perry.  His six grandchildren, Shea, Shannon, Abbie, Megan, Taylor and Robert brought a lot of joy to his life.  He took great pride in his family’s accomplishments.

Bert was a passionate man, fully committed to every task he undertook.  By embracing life to its fullest, he accomplished a lot during his lifetime.   He was a very positive person with a winning smile and a presence that was felt wherever he went.  He passed away on August 4, 2008.  His legacy lives on in his children because he inspired them and instilled values by being a role model.

Honoured by Joe Sinicrope and family.

Thank you for purchasing a leaf of inspiration for Francesca and for supporting your Waterfront Park.

Jocelyne Smirle

July 15, 1956-Oct 17, 2010

Jocelyn’s love of life was a source of inspiration to her family and friends.

She was the loving wife of Steven, dedicated mother to three children, Chester, Erin, and Katie, and grandmother to Hailey, and Lilli-Ann. Her siblings, Pat, Yvon, Mariette and Mike will remember her love of adventure and her great sense of humour.

Jocelyne had a great passion for gardening and created a beautiful landscape at her home, with many flower beds throughout her property. She was proud to have worked alongside her husband to build their family home. She was a sewer, knitter, folk-art artist, loved to cook and even dabbled in pottery.

She was a member of the Medical Secretary Association and worked in that field in North Bay, serving her employers and their clients for 35 years.

She gave of her time as a volunteer for the Multiple Sclerosis Carnation campaign and was part of the Lupus Foundation Research Project of Ontario for 21 years.
She also coached T-ball and belonged to the Callander Horticultural Society.

She lived life to the fullest, all the while coping with lupus, fibro-myalgia, and neurological-myopathy. Regardless of her physical challenges, her spirit in her was palpable.

She filled us with her love and her courage to live fully without complaint, enjoying every minute.

She will be greatly missed but her spirit lives on in all who knew and loved her.

Honoured by Patricia Chapman Lein.

Honoured by Carollyn McNaughton.

Thank you for purchasing a leaf of inspiration for Teresa and for supporting your Waterfront Park.