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Event Date : Friday, December 20, 1963
Event Type : Death

Description : Rev. F. G. MacTavish passed away in York County Hospital, Newmarket, on December 20, 1963, following two days of illness. He was suddenly stricken late Tuesday evening while chatting in his home and immediately lost consciousness, remaining unconscious to the last. Mr. MacTavish was born at Ripley, Ontario, and attended public and high school in that village. At the age of 18 he enlisted for military service during the First Great War and served in Canada and Siberia. Returning after the war he entered Victoria College to study for the ministry. On April 28, 1921, at Creswell, Ontario, he married Mary Annetta MacDonald of Toronto. Upon graduation from Victoria College the first church appointments given Mr. MacTavish were to missions in north-eastern Ontario, first at Wilberforce and then at Apsley. His next churches were Hallowell Circuit, Prince Edward County, then Northport and Seymour Circuit, Campbellford. Omemee and Sunderland followed before he came to Bradford on June 28, 1944, bringing with him his wife and family, his daughter Jean, and two sons, Harold and Gerald. Mr. MacTavish's interest in and knowledge of, the people of this district, those associated with his church and those without church affiliation, had grown through the years and his kindly understanding of human frailties, made him a sympathetic friend to all in trouble, and only by accident did anyone learn of the many, many services he rendered, far beyond the call of his duty as minister to the United Churches in Bradford and Holland Landing. The sick, the poor, the aged, the neglected and even those who might be regarded as rather disreputable, if they needed a minister, could depend upon Mr. MacTavish to answer their need. He was a tireless worker for the church, attending to much of its business personally. He was the instigator of the movement which resulted in the complete renovation of the church building, of which he was so proud and which he watched over personally, checking carefully after all meetings. Mr. MacTavish was a minister whose ministry only began in the pulpit and the boundaries of whose church were only limited by the needs of people. Mr. MacTavish is survived by his wife; his daughter, Miss Jean and son Harold, both of Toronto; his son Gerald and his wife, Helen, of Bradford, and three grandchildren, Jean, Marilyn and Betty, of Bradford; also three brothers, Rev. Duncan MacTavish of London, Ont., Mr. James MacTavish of Lucknow, Ont., and Mr. Alex MacTavish of Ripley, Ont., and three sisters, Mrs. H.
Street (Elizabeth) of Kincardine, Mrs. A. H. Johnston (Jean) of Stratford and Mrs. H. Black (Margaret) of Kincardine. He was predeceased by a sister, Mrs. F. Barkwell (Agnes). Mr. MacTavish was a member of Golden Rule Masonic Lodge Number 126, Campbellford, Ont., and he was padre of Bradford Legion, Branch 521. He was secretary of The Simcoe Presbytery and The Toronto Conference Settlement Committee. The very largely attended funeral was held from Bradford United Church on December 23, and was in charge of ministers of Simcoe Presbytery, namely, Rev. A. S. McCuaig, Rev. A. Smith, Rev. R. E. Webster, and Rev. H. Blake, former rector here. Pallbearers were Dr. G. L. Blackwell, Mr. T. Gardner, Mr. C. T. S. Evans, Mr. Harold Tate, Mr. Alex Stephenson and Mr. C. Brittain. Interment was in Aurora Cemetery.

Event Date : Saturday, May 14, 1955
Event Type : Death

Description : Until within less than a week of his death Mr. T. W. W. Evans, senior member of the law firm of Evans & Evans, Bradford, was at his desk conducting the business of his profession as he had done for nearly 61 years. Last week he did not feel well, and, as had happened upon occasions during recent years, he was forced to remain at home in bed. But the rally to fairly good health which brought him back from previous sicknesses did not occur and he passed away early Saturday morning, May 14. The history of the Evans family dates back some 137 years, to around 1818, when George Evans with his wife and family came from Ireland and settled on Concession 10. Their son, James, later married Ann Mitchell and lived on the same farm, and when their son, George M. Evans, married he brought his bride, the former Elizabeth Cooper, to this same farm, and to them, on May 10, 1868, was born a son whom they named Thomas Wesley Whitfield Evans. And so began a life which was to serve a vital role in this community over a very long period of years.After attending the Bradford schools, including the old Bradford Model school, Mr. Evans taught school for a time at Coulson's Hill before entering law school in Toronto. After graduation he returned to Bradford and set up his law practice in October, 1894. Two years later he married Edith Graham, daughter of T. S. Graham and his wife Annie Drifill Graham, and Mr. and Mrs. Evans established their home in the house on Holland Street which had been built by the grandfather of Mrs. Evans, Thos. Drifill, the first reeve of Bradford. That house is still the Evans home. Mr. and Mrs. Evans had a family of six sons and one daughter. Three of the sons are lawyers, namely, Graham, Charles and Brock, and they with their father formed a family foursome of K.C.'s, now Q.C.'s, in the legal profession. Graham Evans, Q.C., is in Toronto. Fred Evans resides in Clarkson. Max Evans is in Toronto. Charles Evans, Q.C., is a member of the Evans & Evans firm here. Joseph Evans is in Toronto. Betty (Mrs. Jackson) and her family have made their home with her father for a number of years., while Brock Evans, Q.C., is a member of the Evans & Evans firm here. Most the grandchildren are now young men and women and friends of the family will be interested in them. The Graham Evans' family includes a son and daughter, Dr. John and Miss Elizabeth, R.N. The Fred Evans' family includes two daughters, two sons, and a grandson, namely Jean (Mrs. Bruce), and her son David, Douglas, William and Barbara. Max Evans has two sons, Thomas and David. Charles Evans' have four sons, Thomas, James, Robert and Richard. Joseph Evans has a son and two daughters, Donald, Sally Jo and Frances. Betty (Mrs. Jackson) is the mother of George and Elizabeth Jackson, while Brock's family is daughter Ann and son Christopher. Mrs. Evans passed away in October, 1945. Mr. Evans is also survived by four sisters and two brothers, namely, Mrs. Strong (Annie), Mrs. Hughes (Florence),Miss Eva Evans and Miss Libbie Evans, all of Toronto; and two brothers, Charles in Southey and Milton in White Fox, Saskatchewan. He was predeceased by three brothers, Dr. James Evans, Matthew and Fred.The history of West Gwillimbury and Bradford and the Evans family have been analogous for a period of around 135 years. Mr. T. W. W. Evans' father was Reeve of West Gwillimbury for a long term of years and was Warden of Simcoe County in 1873. His uncle, Zackariah Evans, was clerk of the township for a very long period of years. Mr. Evans has been solicitor for both the town and the township for, it is believed, over half a century, thus guiding the businesses of these municipalities. He also served on the schoolboard of Bradford for many years and acted as its chairman. In church affairs he always was a valued leader. In his younger days his church was the Methodist church at Mount Pleasant. Later it was the Methodist church in Bradford and since church union his church was the United Church here. He was an elder of the church and a member of several church boards. His presence at the church services always lent dignity to that service. He was also a lay representative on the Council of the United Church of Canada for a long term of years. Mr. Evans was a member of Simcoe Masonic Lodge and served as Master of the Lodge in 1907. A number of years ago he was presented with his 50 year membership medal by the lodge. He was also a member of L.O.L., Bradford. In 1926 Mr. Evans was joined in his law practice by his son, Charles T. S. Evans, and the firm became Evans & Evans. With expanding business, Brock M. Evans joined the firm in 1950. It was his sons' association in the firm, and their deference to him as senior member of the firm, which made possible Mr. Evans' active role in his profession to the last. Always keenly interested in athletics, he was a member of the executive of the famed lacrosse clubs in Bradford in years gone by and even during recent years he was usually an interested spectator at all sporting activities. As a father, as a churchman, as a citizen, and as a gentleman, Mr. Evans was at all times an example for good living to the people of the community. In his profession his integrity was regarded with the highest respect, while his advice was also sought and respected. The people of this district have suffered a loss in his passing. The funeral was held on Monday afternoon. A service for the family was held at the home followed by a public service in Bradford United Church. A long time friend of Mr. Evans, Rev. Dr. Manson Doyle, and a younger friend, and former minister, Rev. Dr. Harold W. Vaughan, joined the minister of the church, Rev. F. G. MacTavish, in conducting the services. Interment was in the family plot in Mount Pleasant Cemetery.The pallbearers were six grandsons, the eldest sons of the six older members of his family, namely, Dr. John Evans, Douglas Evans, Thomas M. Evans, Thomas E. Evans, George Jackson, and Donald Evans.