Dad's 80years

Margaret & Maurice Quinton

What follows are some notes (found amongst family memorabilia) that were prepared by Mom, Margaret Ellen Quinton (nee Dixon), on the occasion of Dad's 80th Birthday: Maurice Watson was born on April 19, 1914 and he died September 19th, 2012.  The picture at left is them on holidays in their retirement years.

There was a celebration planned by David and Gail for his 80th birthday with lots of family and friends in Hamilton. But dad fell ill that day, they missed the party and mother never got to make her presentation. What follows are her notes transcribed with minor editing. 

Margaret writes:

These 80 years have come and gone so fast, one wonders where they went. But looking back it's plain to see this: the many tales and facts. 

Your childhood days on the Euphrasia farm were filled with fun and laughter. The golden rule was taught at home by your teachers mom and dad. 

A treasured boy you were to sisters numbered four. A teenage brother, Emerson, your childhood play he missed. A lovely family with siblings numbering six - father Richard (1861-1943), mother Alberta (1874-9133), brother Emerson (1900-1969), and sisters Beatrice (1894-1936), Melba (1905-1999), Olive (1907-2001) and Hilda (1910-2015). 

The three R's of reading, writing, and arithmetic have served you well. Your school, U.S.S. No 1 Walter's Falls, it's tolling Bell and teachers you will recall — Miss Mark and Mabel Curry. Classmates too: William Lemon, Morell Acheson, and Morris Laycock. The Catechism you were taught at St Philips Sunday School. To church you went and served through the years in one office or another: Warden, Vestry Clerk, Treasurer, and Cemetery Board. 

Maurice and I were married June 11, 1938 and we raised seven children through laughter and tears. We are blessed today with 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Three grandsons have the Quinton name; Darren, Andrew, and Paul. May God bless them with a few male children to carry on the Quinton name, God knows we've done our part. 

This story I'm telling is all very true so I'm telling it to you so you can remember it too. 

Ellen (1938), the oldest. The apple of her daddy's eye. "I want my daddy!" were her cries on a sleepover at the Pitts' home in Meaford. And I need to check it when I put on her mittens — check it to see if the thumb was in the right place!

Larry (1940) was "John boy" and often followed his grand dad into Walter's Falls for the mail — a one mile walk. He showed his love with a whack on your back. 

Tony (1945) was the "bread box" invader in your home or ours. Mishaps follow him: as a child he had a near accident at the farm in New Hamburg and late, as an adult, at Walter's Falls there was an apple elevator accident. 

David (1947) followed Dad's truck two (2) miles out the Markdale road and was thankfully picked up and returned home. He tried to keep his friend John Hallman in high school and did his homework for him but couldn't write his exams. David was a great help in the house for mother. 

Reg (1952) always called "Rambling Reg". A small child, he could be found any place in the village of Walter's Falls. He was sent home one day by William Tindale. He says he still likes to travel and carry Kate's bags.

Dale (1954) had a motorcycle accident in Meaford and an appendix operation when he was younger. He told stories in the hospital that he had heard his Dad tell, other patients asked where he had heard them. He always wanted to be a policeman.

Paul (1958) tugged at my shirt and said, "You'll not cry when I go off to college or university". I didn't, I just fell apart and landed up in hospital. Paul was always interested in growing things; from when he was a cub and grew an onion. He was always a caring boy, but gave his parents some concern over some of his childhood friends. There were some poor report cards in public school; but, he was a top scholar in the schools he attended afterwards.

These notes transcribed 2021/04/23 with the help of Google Voice. Filed in my blog for the time around Dad's 80th birthday.