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Audrey Evans Dies After Brief Illness

Bradford lost a special lady last week. Audrey Evans, wife of former Bradford Mayor and Simcoe Centre MPP, D. Arthur Evans died early Wednesday morning, April 29, at York County Hospital in Newmarket after a sudden illness.

Mrs. Evans, 63, was taken ill while she and her husband vacationed with friends in Pheonix, Arizona on April 14.

Mr. Evans said she "miraculously" regained consciousness while in hospital in Pheonix to greet her children who had rushed to her bedside, then lapsed into a coma shortly afterward.

She was flown back to Canada the day prior to her death. He family was with her when she died.

NEAR ALLISTON

Born Audrey Myrtle Kerr, Mrs. Evans was the daughter of Selby Britton and Myrtle Kerr who owned a farm near Alliston.

Mr. Evans recalled meeting his wife at a dance while they were both teenagers. "We went together for five years and were married in 1939 in the Anglican Church in Rosemount," he said.

The couple celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary while they were in Pheonix.

After their marriage they settled in Bradford where Mr. Evans operated a business and was ready to embark on his long political career, culminating in his election as Bradford's first mayor and MPP in 1960.

POLITICAL LIFE

"There is absolutely no way I could have done it without her," he commented. "I couldn't have had a better wife for a political life."

A charming, friendly lady, Mrs. Evans proved as staunch a campaigner as her husband. "She really enjoyed it," he recalled.

As well as helping her husband through successive political campaigns, Mrs. Evans was also an active members of the IODE and Anglican Church Women, and taught Sunday school as Trinity Anglican in Bradford.

Before a serious operation about four years ago, Mr. Evans said, she also enjoyed curling and playing golf.

"She was very active with young people. Our children's friends were always made welcome in our home. She just loved young people." Mr. Evans said.

Mourners Friday overflowed the chapel of the Lathangue-Skwarchuk Funeral Home where a funeral service for Mrs. Evans was conducted by Rev. Garnett Whitfield of Trinity Anglican Church.

Rev. Whitfield himself recalled first meeting Mrs. Evans as she typically offered assistance while he and Mrs. Whitfield were moving into their home last year.

FAMILY

Audrey Evans leaves her husband Art, children John, Don, Robin, Cathy (Mrs. Luis Arruda), and grandchildren Martina, David, Tara, Reagan, Becky, Justin, and Tiffany. She also leaves a brother, Borden.

Interment took place at Coulson's Hill cemetery.

Pallbearers were Keith Noble, Jack Constable, Ron Whiteside, Tim Fuller, Art Turner, and Doug Stewart.

Flower bearers were Ken Tupling, Walt Edney, Lloyd Kneeshaw, Bus Culbert, Keith Stevens, Jim McClocklin, Charlie Evans, and Ross Hughes.

"Bond Head's Pioneer Parade last saturday, July 1, was another example and proof of the fact that enthusiasm and willing workers can produce what money expenditure cannot. The Bond Head workers for the parade, and other events, did not have big financial resources but they did have a wealth of initiative, enthusiasm willingness to work, and a determination to do credit to Bond Head, and they most certainly accomplished the latter. That parade, and other events of the day, made July 1, 1967, red letter day for Bond Head." ...

Article on the blessing and opening of the Holy Martyrs Roman Catholic Church. Article describes the event.

Article describing how Mr. and Mrs. Fred Cook are to be honored for their commitment to the Trinity Anglican Church.

"Fred Cook, a man who for many years was a social and political influence in Bradford, died last Thursday in York County Hospital at 73. Mr. Cook was admitted to the hospital April 6 suffering from a heart attack. Funeral services were held in Trinity Anglican Church, Bradford, on Monday afternoon with the Rector, Rev. Jack House and Bishop Hunt, a lifelong friend of Mr. Cook's, conducting the service. Hundreds of friends and associates gathered in the little church on Church St. that Fred Cook served so well. Mayor Joe Magani led a delegation of members of council and the town administrative staff. Many officials representing the various surrounding municipalities also attended the special funeral service. During his 73 years, Fred Cook's life revolved around the town of his birth, Bradford."

"While working in the flower-bed at the front of the bradford Presbyterian Church this summer, Mr. harvey Curry dug up a small object which turned out to be a button off a soldier's uniform. A little rubbing revealed the number "30" inside a raised circle on which was the word "Cambridge"
Local veterans being unable to identify it, Mr. Curry wrote to the Royal Canadian Military Institute in Toronto and received the following reply:" ...

"Reverend Roy Comrie of Umtalie, Rhodesia, will be guest speaker at St. John's West Gwillimbury churches in Bradford on Sunday, April 2. Mr. Comrie is a missionary who serves with the Africa Evangelical Fellowship and studies at Central Baptist Seminary in Toronto. He was born in Rhodesia to parents from Comrie, Perthshire, Scotland, and has served several years in Zambia. He and his wife, Gwyneth, a registered nurse, have been serving in Rhodesia as pastor of a congregation, principal of a Bible School, and evangelists. The Comries have three sons, two of them teenagers, and a daughter, and they are planning to return to Rhodesia in August. The Presbyterian congregations welcome everyone to their Sunday services and invite you to hear this interesting preacher."

"The Auld Kirk, a historical church located at the Scotch Settlement will be the scene of an old time church service Sunday, June 22 at 3:00 p.m. The service is being jointly arranged by the Barrie Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church and the Simcoe Presbytery of the United Church. The Auld Kirk is on the 6th line of West Gwillimbury Township south of Highway 88 at the Scotch Settlement. The outdoor service will be led by Rev. Henry Dahlin, minister of Bond Head United Church and Chairman of the Simcoe Presbytery. Also participating in the service will be Rev. Ken Purdon, minister of Burton Ave. United Church in Barrie and Rev. Ed MacDonald, minister of the Presbyterian Church in Orillia and moderator of Barrie Presbytery. The guest preacher will be Rev. W. Stanford Reid, Professor of History at the University of Guelph.
The Auld Kirk's beginnings go back to 1823 when a log church was built by the settlers of the Scotch Settlement. In 1827, a frame church was built and the original log building was moved and used as a school until 1840. The present Auld Kirk building was erected in 1869 at a cost of $1,000. Due to a dwindling population the church was closed in 1885 and for some years fell into disrepair. In 1912, it required a new roof. In 1953, the restoration of the cemetery was started and in 1958 restoration work began on the church."

Article on a temperance-based sermon delivered by Rev. Joseph Young, pastor of the Bradford Methodist Church. On December 4, 1902, the Ontario Liquor Act referendum would be voted on by the public to decide whether the government should usher in an era of prohibition. Bradford, a town heavy with taverns and inns, had churches and the newspaper promoting the vote for prohibition. After the vote on December 4, West Gwillimbury had a majority for prohibition, though it did not pass. There was a low voter turnout, and despite the majority everywhere, it could not pass. See the Related Description articles for more information on Bradford's perspective.