Tribute Appreciated

Tribute to mother was appreciated

She loved writing for The Express

Editor:

I am writing to thank you for your column, about my mother, Margaret Quinton, which was in the Dec. 17 edition of The Express. It has been greatly appreciated by all of my family. As a little boy, I remember my mother taking time, from a hectic household schedule to write for your paper as well as others in the community. It gave her a great deal of satisfaction to know that she was writing for the paper and informing the community. Though I must confess that I did not read many of the earlier contributions, as I did not want to know who had visited who, or who was ill or whatever it was she used to put into those community news columns. I hope that at the time some people appreciated them. I can now understand that those columns were a means, for some readers, to connect and interact, in some manner with their community.

My father bought copies of the paper, with your article, for his children who do not have subscriptions. I believe some of my siblings get your paper even though they live in Hamilton, Ont. and Fort St. John, British Columbia. I guess The Express is a connection to home, a connection to Walter's Falls and a connection to my mother.

Fortunately we are now in a time period where computers have spell check and printers. I know my mother could have benefited from such tools. But those were the days of less technology and even less money; my mother scratching away and you at the other end deciphering and editing. I do not know if I am expressing myself well. I am not a journalist. It is difficult to say how much I appreciate not only the article you wrote but also your years of patience and acceptance of the work of my mother, who like me, was no journalist. I applaud you and your paper for helping my mother become the woman she was. 

Thanks again.

Yours truly, Paul Quinton

This was a letter to the Editor of the Meaford Express published sometime shortly after mother's death — I'd guess Dec 24 or 31, 1997. Document scanned and Google Eye used to capture text. REQ ‘21/04/26

FIRST GLANCE

FIRST GLANCE: Correspondent passes away

(from) The Meaford Express, December 17, 1997

Longtime Meaford Express correspondent and Walter's Falls native Margaret Quinton died last Thursday, December 11, at the age of 77.

Funeral services were held Monday at St. Philip's Anglican Church in Walter's Falls, officiated by Rev. Wm. Rowles, and afterwards many paid tribute to her contribution to her community.

"Her passing leaves a large vacancy in this community. Few others have contributed so much time and effort for the benefit of their fellow citizens," states a tribute to her life submitted to the Express by the citizens of Walter's Falls. She was a wife and mother extraordinary, a dedicated church worker, a long-time Women's Institute member, a community centre board member, a local historian and member of the Historical Society, and an active member of local citizen ratepayer groups.

"These are but a few of Margaret's contributions to her community and society, all this in addition to a lifetime dedication to her family," said the tribute. "Her passing leaves us a legacy of memories that cannot replace her, but cannot be taken from us. We thank God for the privilege of knowing her and being her friend."

Mrs. Quinton is survived by her husband, Maurice and their seven children, Ellen Edmonstone, of Brampton, Larry and his wife Jean, of Brampton, Anthony of Fort St. John, B.C., David and his wife Gail, of Hamilton, Reginald and his wife Kate, of London, Dale and his wife Sherrie, of Mission, B.C., Paul and his wife Judy, of Milton. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Sister of Grace Whieldon of Markdale and Wm. (Mac) Dixon and his wife Shirley, of Mitchell. Predeceased by two sisters, Edna and Iva and a brother, Walter. Interment followed the funeral at St. Phillip’s Cemetery.

The "Please see Page 4." is reproduced in this blog as the entry "A Shining Example".

Document scanned and Google Eye used to capture text. REQ ‘21/04/26

A Shining Example

A shining example of hard work, love and dedication

(from) The Meaford Express, Dec 17, 1997

Editor’s Notebook. By Scott Woodhouse

I was introduced to Margaret Quinton just over 12 years ago when I started work at The Express. We didn't really meet. I was handed a piece of paper with some extremely messy handwriting and was told to "decipher it" and type it into the computer.

That's also how I learned about Walter's Falls. Like clock work, once a month, I'd receive a small envelope marked "NEWS" with Margaret's latest missive from the Falls. They were always full of interesting bits of information, community events, and Women's Institute news. I even received one in the mail last Thursday, typed it up and ended it, as usual, with her byline: Margaret Quinton reporting. Life is full of little ironies.

I received a call on Saturday telling me she had passed away Thursday afternoon, probably at the same time I was finishing her latest article, I was shocked and saddened.

In the years since I started at the paper, I've worked on a few stories with Margaret and typed up countless numbers of her community news reports. As I got to know her better, I realized what a special woman she was.

A lady gifted with many talents (neat handwriting was not one of them, sorry Margaret) and boundless energy, she showered them endlessly and unselfishly on others her family, her com munity, and her church.

To me, her name is synonymous with Walter's Falls. Her dedication to the tiny community she called home for so many years was unquestionable.

The day she died, she spent the morning putting up Christmas decorations at St. Philip's Anglican Church with her husband Maurice. Even though she had moved to Owen Sound, she maintained close ties with her community, looking after the church, hosting Women's Institute meetings, and reporting Walter's Falls community news in the Meaford Express.

For many years she served on the board of directors for the Community Hall, acting as chairperson for several terms. She started the Wolf Cub Pack in the Falls, and was its leader for five years.

She has been a life-long member of the Walter's Falls Women's Institute, was its president on several occasions, and this past summer at the 100th anniversary celebration of Women's Institutes held in Hamilton, she was presented with a special award recognizing her years of service.

Along with her active volunteer work, Margaret accomplished a couple of "firsts" of which she was extremely proud.

She was the first woman councillor elected to Holland Township Council and she was the first woman delegate to the Anglican Huron Synod at London, Ont.

Margaret Dixon was born in Holland Township in 1920 and moved into the village of Walter's Falls when she was two years old. She attended Holland Euphrasia S.S.#11, a one room school house. When she was 18, Maurice came along and swept her off her feet and they were married on June 11, 1938. They moved to Waterloo for one year, but soon realized Walter's Falls was home, and returned to run a trucking business and raise seven children.

Margaret and Maurice were dedicated to each other and would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in June. She was a leader and dedicated member of St. Philip's Anglican Church, decorating it for special occasions, caring for the sacred and vessels, preparing the altar, giving leadership to the A.C.W., and serving as a warden for the past four years.

She enjoyed many hobbies, including making hasty-notes with pressed flowers, quilting, hooking and needlework, and reading.

She was held in high esteem by all who knew her and the large crowd that assembled at the small St. Philip's Church at the funeral service Monday was a testimony to that fact. She lived life to the fullest and her memory will be cherished by all who knew her.

I'm going to miss Margaret and her distinctive handwriting, but I'm a better person for know ing her.

Her life was a shining example of hard work, love, and dedication to her community.

Document scanned and Google Eye used to capture text. REQ ‘21/04/26

Obituary: Margaret Ellen Quinton

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(from) the Owen Sound Sun Times. December 15, 1997

 QUINTON-Margaret Ellen

Of Owen Sound and formerly of Walter's Falls, at the Grey Bruce Regional Health Centre on Thursday, December 11th, 1997, in her 78th year. Dearly beloved wife of Maurice Quinton. Dear mother of Ellen Edmonstone, of Brampton; Larry and his wife, Jean, of Brampton; Anthony, of Fort St. John, B.C.; David and his wife, Gail, of Hamilton; Reginald and his wife, Kate, of London; Dale and his wife, Sherie, of Mission, B.C.; Paul and his wife, Judy, of Milton. Grandmother of ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Sister of Grace Wheildon, of Markdale and Wm. (Mac) Dixon and his wife, Shirley, of Mitchell. Predeceased by two sisters, Edna, Iva and one brother, Walter. Margaret was an exceptional woman. She lived life to its fullest and her memory will be cherished by all who knew her. Friends called at the CURRIE FUNERAL HOME, 239 Garafraxa St., Chatsworth, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Satur day evening and 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Sunday. The funeral service will be held at St. Philip's Anglican Church in Walter's Falls, on Monday, December 15th at 1:30 p.m. Interment to follow at St. Philip's Cemetery. As an expression of sympathy, do nations to St. Philip's Anglican Church or to the charity of your choice would be appreciated by the family.

The Sun Times would like to apologize to the Family of the late Margaret Quinton and the Currie Funeral Home for our error in not running the notice on Saturday, December 13, 1997. We sincerely regret any further grief this may have caused.

Document scanned and Google Eye used to capture text. REQ ‘21/04/26

Edinburgh

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In November of 1997 Kate was invited by her colleagues Martin and Moira Plant to a conference/meeting in Edinburgh. We flew into Heathrow London, visited with our Mom² and Dad² at "Winterset" in Woking before wending our way across the country up to the north and Edinburgh in Scotland. The picture at left is Edinburgh harbor -- click on the image for more photos.

It was an odd time to visit -- fall weather, a bit cool and damp with trees mostly having lost their leaves. It was well outside tourist season. Roger, our travel agent at the time, had arranged a coupon book that had us travelling through the country side staying at country inns of one sort or another. The package included dinner at the inns and breakfast in the morning. We had some very nice dinners and traditional English breakfasts in the morning. As it's off season often there would only be a few us there for our meals.

We'd never experienced an English breakfast before. It's mostly fried foods -- eggs (of course), some rashers of bacon, perhaps some blood sausage or bangers of some sort. Then mushrooms, tomatoes and even toast fried in the bacon drippings. I enjoyed them, Kate as a pescaterian, was not so keen on all the meats. She especially didn't like all the clicking of forks and knives on plates for those who pack their forks "English Style". When we met up with Martin and Moira we asked them if people really ate that kind of breakfast every day in the United Kingdom. Turns out they don't -- they have toast and jam with cereal and milk with perhaps a bit of fruit like the rest of us but load up on these high fat feasts for breakfast when they're on holidays. It's a "holiday" tradition to have a "traditional English breakfast."

Most of the inns were quite lovely, we were very pampered. There was on in an older hotel that had the fire escape for that floor through our room. Compromises were made to keep these older hotels in business.

We set out from Woking with the idea of seeing Cheddar Gorge (for the cheese), Stonehenge on the Salisbury Plain and foolishly believing we would be having a swim in the Roman Baths at Bath.

England & Scotland

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In November of 1997 Kate and I were in England. She had a meeting in Edinburgh. We flew into Heathrow, visited our second Mom & Dad in nearby Woking, then puttered our way up to Edinburgh via Stonehenge, Cheddar, Bath, York, Hadrian's Wall and more.

This is a place holder. The album and this note need a lot of work.

 

Summer

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I bumped into a folder of slides marked "summer of 1997" and thought I ought to scan them — it's 26 years later. Scan them if only to find out what's there. What follows is some commentary on the contents. They are interesting to us and might be to you.

The slides start with a lovely picture of Kate smiling in sunglasses; it's a very good picture and nice to have found it. There's some photos in and around the town of St Marys. This would have been before we moved there in February of 1998.

Our home was in London but, beginning in 1990, we had a park model mobile home, with an attached sun room, parked at the Science Hill Golf course north of St Marys along the Thames. We spent our summers there. It was a great time, but this would be our last year at the trailer. In the fall I resigned from Western, took a position at Waterloo (effective January 1998) and we found our home in St Marys. When we moved here we had no need for the trailer. We ended up selling it to some people who moved it to another park near Severn River. They got a very good deal.

I note that the pictures of the train trestle over Rice Lake in St Marys are from before it was converted to a walkway with lights and railing. At the time it would have been off limits. Pictures show the Creamery was busy on a sunny summer day.

Next there's some pictures of Jack and Doreta (Kate's parents) at Westport. They had a cottage on a lake not too far from Westport and we spent a lot of our time there. Jack and Doreta sold the cottage when they were no longer able to tend to it. They had offered to give it to their 3 children (Bill, Gord and Kate) but none of them wanted to deal with it. There are a lot of cottage stories to tell — like the time Jack threw me in the lake and more!

There's some pictures of a weekend at our trailer. Pat and Cindy are there. Ken, our nephew, and his two sons Mordecai and Kane who stayed with us for a week or so. Our nephew Mark and his wife Kathy (they parted) are there. Ken had recently had a brain aneurysm and a stroke following surgery. He's in pretty good shape in these pictures but the stroke left him aphasic — he has real trouble finding his words. Ken and his wife Jeananne were parted at this time. Shortly after Jeananne and the kids moved to Victoria, BC. So this would have been the last summer we had with Cai and Kane. 

There's a couple of pictures of rides at the St Marys Agricultural Fair. The fair shut down not too many years after. We took Ken and the kids to Rock Glen Falls, near Parkhill. And then onto Grand Bend where we played in the sand and had another swim.

One of our favorite adventures with the kids was the water slide at Sportsworld in Kitchener (long since gone). Kate loves the water slide. There was also a wave tank crowded with kids. No chance for Kate to do any of her swimming laps around the pool! The two kids tried out the rock climb. It was a busy and successful operation for many years.

Lastly there's a visit to the African Lion Safari which is near Cambridge. There are quite a few interesting animals to see up close and personal from the safety of your car. Some of the apes (baboons maybe?) like to sit on your car, rip off the wipers or rubber from around the windows. Lions and tigers too. I recall they used to have an elephant parade that we had seen with Kaitlan and Alana (another pair of nieces who would visit in the summer) on another visit.

There are many family and friends in these photos we sadly miss. But it's nice to see them again and recall the fun times we had back in the summer of 1997 when we were much younger — I was a lad of only 45 years. Doreta always said that your 40's were your best years. Perhaps she was right.

— Slides scanned and notes prepared April 2023 from hazy memories of fun times.