Maurice Watson Quinton 1914-2012

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 My father Maurice Watson Quinton passed away recently at Spruce Lodge in Stratford. Dad was 98 years old and had lived a full life. The picture to the left is the pair of us in 1992. We both were a lot younger. I've not been able to collect my thoughts to rightly eulogize a man who meant so much to me. My brother Paul has blogged on A Time and a Place for Everything. Fortunately for me others, like Paul, have collected their thoughts so I'll post what they've had to say while I organize my own thoughts for another day.

First the funeral announcement from the Owen Sound Sun Times newspaper:

"QUINTON, Maurice Watson - Peacefully at the Spruce Lodge in Stratford, on Wednesday, September 19th, 2012. Maurice Watson Quinton, recently of Owen Sound and formerly of Walter's Falls, at the age of 98 years. Dearly loved husband of the late Margaret Quinton (nee Dixon). Loving father of Ellen Edmonstone, of Victoria, B.C., Larry Quinton (Jean McLaren), of Collingwood, Anthony Quinton (Vivian Siever), of Niton Junction, Alberta, David Quinton (Gail), of Hamilton, Reginald Quinton (Kathryn Graham), of St. Mary's, Dale Quinton (Sherie) of Hubley, Nova Scotia and Paul Quinton (El Saichua), of Cambodia. Proud grandfather of 10 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren. Dear brother of Hilda Puddicombe, of New Hamburg. Predeceased by his parents, Richard and Alberta (nee Carney) Quinton; his brother, Emerson Quinton; his sisters, Beatrice Matheson, Melba Vivian and Olive Pitts. Maurice was born and raised in Walter's Falls. He owned and operated Maurice Quinton and Sons Transport Ltd. in Walter's Falls for most of his life. Friends may call at the BRIAN E. WOOD FUNERAL HOME, 250 - 14th Street West, Owen Sound, Ontario N4K - 3X8 (519-376-7492) on Sunday from 2:00 - 4:00 and 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. A Funeral Service for Maurice Quinton will be held at St. Philip's Anglican Church, Walter's Falls on Monday, September 24th at 1:00 p.m. Interment in St. Philip's Cemetery, Walter's Falls. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Philip's Anglican Church or the charity of your choice would be appreciated as your expression of sympathy. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family on-line at www.woodfuneralhome.ca

A life well lived and a man well loved."

With the permission of the author, Rev Canon Nancy Adams, here is the homily she delivered at Dad's funeral at St Philip's Anglican Church, Walter's Falls where dad was buried.

"Funeral Homily - Maurice Quinton, September 24, 2012

As pastor to Maurice when serving in this parish several years ago, I’m going to add my voice to those who have already spoken to say that I will remember him as a man who was principled, focused and determined; a man of great personal integrity. Maurice didn’t shrink back when it came to expressing and living his values; he had a crystal clear idea of what was right and proper - a traditionalist in many senses - and heaven help the person who tried to change his mind about something once it was made up! He was unswervingly loyal to his family, his community, and his church; he understood the value of knowing your roots, and could be counted on to share tidbits of local history with anyone who would listen. His commitment to this church in particular is the stuff of which legends are made. Among other roles he filled in the church, he was Secretary-Treasurer here at St. Philip’s for well over 40 years, and if I’m not mistaken is pretty much single-handedly responsible for establishing the means by which the care of this building and grounds will continue well into the foreseeable future; and recognition for his broad-based work on behalf of the church came in 2005 when he was honoured with the Bishop’s Award for Excellence. He was truly an old-fashioned Anglican churchman - proud of the church’s heritage, devoted to its liturgy, and committed to the notion that a church building is valuable - not only as a piece of local history, but also as an enduring sign of God’s presence in the community. He understood stewardship in terms of recognizing his blessings and giving back. Heaven knows, we could use a little more of that attitude in the church and in the world these days!

I also knew Maurice as a welcoming and hospitable person who enjoyed a good chat. He was thoughtful and knowledgeable on many subjects and even if your opinions on any given topic were in conflict with his, as mine often were, you could agree to disagree with Maurice, and still part friends. And I have to say, that as a model for how to age gracefully, I have seen few parallel his ability to stay physically active, mentally alert, and young at heart. I can still see the twinkle in his eye and the playful grin on his face as he shared his latest, often slightly off-colour joke with me on his way out the door after Church on a Sunday morning....which just goes to prove, if you can still tease and flirt at 93 and beyond, you must be doing something right.

Maurice was also a person of quiet and confident faith, which as I mentioned was most in evidence in his commitment to ensuring the continuing presence of St. Philip’s in this community. But there was more to it than that, and it surfaced every year when Ellen and Maurice and I would sit down to plan the annual memorial service for the cemetery. He would never ask for it himself, but Ellen knew that his favourite hymn was "O Master Let Me Walk With Thee", and every memorial service that I was here for, it got sung.... a musical thank you, I suppose, to this grand old man who laboured quietly behind the scenes in this, his beloved church. And yes, we’re going to be singing it a little later on in the service, but for now I simply ask that when we get to it, pay attention to the words, because they will say a lot about the faith that he embraced: that amid the changes and chances of life, if we have faith, then we also have hope...not only in life, but also in death.

So - we’ve come together to celebrate the life and faith of a remarkable family man, business man, community historian, church member, and friend. In remembering and sharing our memories of Maurice today and over the next while, we’ll be calling to mind the love he shared and the strength he brought, but I rather suspect we’ll also be balancing those gifts with some stories of his peculiarities and idiosyncrasies. He was human, after all, and not a saint - in fact, if we try to remember him as a saint, we do him, and ourselves, an injustice. So - remember his strengths with pride, his mistakes with forgiveness, and his peculiarities with humour.

The thing I’ll always carry with me as a memory is that Maurice knew without a doubt that his life was in the hands of Jesus his Master; that his spiritual thirst could be quenched by the Living Water, and his spiritual hunger fed by the Bread of Heaven. I think he would want us all to know that in relationship with the Master, there is comfort and healing and hope. We thank God for the privilege of knowing and loving Maurice; and for the conviction that he is now, indeed, walking with the Master he loved and served all his life.

Revd. Canon Nancy Adams"

Finally, I have posted an album of photos of Dad taken throughout his lifetime. There's photos from his youth and lots with family and friends. Family and friends who will miss him.