Category: C

Carr, Sheila Edith (Shaw) #125 *

Honoured by her family. 

Sheila Carr
Our Mom, Sheila, was a teacher of family values in life, including love, honesty and hard work.
Her Father, J.L. Shaw, born in Scotland, became a local businessman in North Bay – owning Macdonald Beverages pop bottling and Distribution Company on property which has now become part of the beautiful waterfront. He achieved his dreams through hard work, commitment and volunteering. He was Mayor of North Bay in 1947.
Learning from her Father and Mother Edith Webber, Sheila, her sister Jackie and brother Gary, with their spouses, were also successful business developersand stock market entrepreneurs. Among the companies they founded were Pop Shoppes and GramaLees Bakery.
After meeting her husband, Gordon E. Carr, they started a company, Northland Glass and Metal, in North Bay.
They had four kids – Michael, Laural, Nancy and Robert. They have all grown to be equally hardworking respectable business owners and professionals.
Mom, if you look back at your accomplishments, you should be very proud. One lesson you told us a long time ago was that you get out of life what you put into it.
You have been the tree of our success, the roots of our support, the trunk of our strength, the branches of family and the leaves of individuality.
Love – your son – Rob.

Things my Mother taught me about life:
1. Moms love you unconditionally
2. A lot about cooking and love of different foods
3. It’s very important to get a good education
4. Keep up your appearance (unless you don’t want to)
5. Be confident, you are a smart person and can do anything you set your mind to
6. Be curious, you are never too old to learn something new, keep learning all your life
7. It’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle and stay young
8. She supports my decisions as long as they are mine
9. She respects my opinion
10. Work hard, do a good job, but take time to enjoy time for yourself
11. Nothing in life is black and white, just many shades of grey
12. Respect for others and their property, treat others as you would have them treat you
13. Try to be self-sufficient in everything you do
Happy Birthday Mom
April 18, 2011
Love Michael

April 2011
For my Mother, Sheila Carr
In honour of your zest for life, and in the year of a special birthday
Mom, you are a patent and understanding parent, grandparent and teacher, and I admire you for this.
You are open to travel adventure, on the road, on a boat, at a camp or a campground, or in some of the world’s most exotic locations and kitchens. And you return home to your favourite, the unspoiled, rugged beauty of the place of your birth, North Bay.
You are blessed with vitality and a healthy spirit that has equipped you to navigate the ups and downs of life with grace, faith and “positivity”.
You are a steadfast and supportive friend, and it shows in the friends of all ages that surround you. You embrace everyone equally and make all feel welcome with your warm hospitality.
I love the sense of style that you bring to your projects, lessons, parties, events, décor, cookbooks, menus and meals. Your passion, ease and comfort in the kitchen results in unrivaled delight for your family and friends.
Thank you for your sense of adventure.
Thank you for your “positivity”.
Thank you for your friendship.
Thank you for delighting us with yor style savvy.
And thank you for generously sharing these gifts with us all.
With love and gratitude, to my Mom, Sheila Carr, who taught me to always smell the roses along life’s path.
Laural Carr & Nancy Carr

Carr, Lela Robena #123 *

Honoured by Sheila Carr.

Lela Robena Carr nee Eaton

As a child of twelve, on the death of her Mother, Lela took over the household responsibilities of the Eaton family of five boys, a younger sister and her Father.
At age 18 she married Roy Earnest Carr on his return from war in 1920. Her only child, Gordon, was born January 1st, 1929.

Lela was a dedicated homemaker and church worker, cheerfully baking and entertaining friends and family. Until her 87th birthday she could be found at her ironing board or pulley-clothesline or making homemade soap on the stove. Her grandchildren looked forward to a full cookie jar at each visit to her little house.
Each Christmas she thrilled Michael, Laural, Nancy and Robert with a picnic hamper full of homemade doughnuts and “hard as a rock” ginger cookies. After Christmas Eve church she served her special suet pudding filled with raisins and covered with butterscotch sauce to her smiling brood of grandchildren.

Lela was free with advice – about raising children, their clothes and activities. Pets had no place in her home – too dirty!

She believed in hard work and accepting hard times without complaint. She patiently cared for Roy at home after his stroke until his death. Her one complaint happened when she could not pay her monthly bills with cash. Part of her social life involved her three kilometre walk downtown to chat with the girls at the bank, hydro or City Hall.

At eighty-eight years Lela soldiered through the loss of her only child, Gordon.
We loved her. She was a loving and trusting Mother-in-law and I still miss her and honour her!

Sheila

Craigie, Bill & Cam #68 *

Honoured by Margaret Craigie

Cam Craigie
1952-2010

My son Cam was a well known and respected Secondary School and College teacher on Manitoulin Island, Sudbury area, and Exeter where he was employed by the Avon Maitland District School Board. He was a wonderful teacher with a great sense of humour. He loved to make people laugh!
Honouring Cam and Bill is very important to me. They made a difference in many lives, especially mine.

Bill Craigie
1942-2006

I’m very proud of my eldest son, Bill. He excelled academically and was instrumental in bringing the touch-tone phone to North Bay. As an employee of Northern Electric, he followed the progression of the touch-tone phones and his work resulted in the company sending him to Queen’s University to obtain a master’s degree in electronic engineering. Bill loved his career and enjoyed his work.

He was a very quiet man. He often said, “The smartest thing I’ve done in life is to have a family.” He was happy to share anything he had. He was a good man, loved and was loved.

Margaret Craigie

Comerford, Viola #471

Honoured by Janet M. Comerford, Joanne D. Comerford, Carol V. Tayler, Patricia Downard,

Thank you for purchasing a leaf of inspiration for  Viola and for supporting the Waterfront Pergola campaign.  Story to follow.

 

Cooper, Jack & Lois Cooper #4 *

Honoured by Carol and Chris, Marcia and Barry, Diane and Don, and Laurie and Steve.

Lois MacDonald Cooper is an inspiration to all who know her.  At 90 years of age, she continues to be a wonderful role model. She was born and raised in Ottawa, the only child on Elwood and Mabel MacDonald.  In 1943, at the age of 23, she enlisted in the Canadian Red Cross to work in England, Belgium and France as a Welfare Worker in Canadian Military Hospitals.  Lois felt the need to serve her country and the world, putting herself at risk in many very difficult situations and having many wonderful experiences along the way.

Our father, John Sidney Cooper, was born in Toronto, October 14, 1912, one of eight children.  His parents died early and he and his sisters raised their younger siblings.  With much determination, Dad completed his Civil Engineering degree at U of Toronto during the Depression.  He enlisted in 1943, and served as Lieutenant Commander in the Canadian Navy, aboard the HMCS Ottawa.  Lois and John both returned to Canada in October, 1945, married and moved to North Bay in January, 1946 when our father secured employment with the ONR.  He retired 34 years later as Chief Engineer of the ONR.

We remember our dad for his devotion to us all.  He was a true family man, whose spare time was spent at our cottage on Trout Lake, or skiing most winter weekends with all of us.  We have always known that we were our parents’ first priority.  This joy of family time continued with our husbands and children; “nanny and daddy-dee” have very special places in the hearts of their sons-in-law and nine grandchildren.  Having struggled through the Depression, Dad took his job as father and provider very seriously.  He was a real “Mr. Fix It”, who would tackle any household job, including building our family home and cottage.  Dad passed away during the summer of 1997.  He handled aging and illness with dignity, patience and a sense of humour.

Mom continues to be a real inspiration as to how to embrace and live life to the fullest.  She has met each stage of her life with enthusiasm, each challenge with creativity and persistence, each new individual with compassion and love.  After the war, she worked as a full time homemaker, caring for her four daughters with passion. Her purpose in life is to provide joy, security and comfort to each of us. She has always been there to “cover our backs” when a difficulty arose, to share our times of joy, and to ease our lives.  She continues to show us how to grow old with grace by accepting the death of our father, the loss of many friends, moving out of our family home, and into a retirement home, and ongoing medical issues.  Lois is the ultimate giver, who cares for those around her rather than dwelling on herself.  We are especially proud of her accomplishment of writing and publishing her book, “Wartime Letters Home”, a chronicle of her wartime experiences.  She accomplished this task while in her eighties, and was honored by the Canadian Red Cross upon the completion of the book, which has provided a special legacy for us all.

We love you, Mom and Dad.  Welcome to the Leaves of Inspiration!                                             Carol, Marcia, Diane and Laurie