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Audio and summary of an interview with D.K. (Dewitt Henry Kitson) Harvey on March 20, 1974. The interviewer is Jack Coleman. D.K. discusses his family history, community involvement (politics, conservation, etc.) and memories of Simcoe County. See the Related Descriptions below for links to audio and summary.

Event Date : Friday, February 12, 1954
Event Type : Death

Description : One of the district's most elderly, well known, and highly respected residents, Mr. John Henry Lee, passed away on Friday, February 12. About a year ago his health began to fail. He spent six weeks in Southampton hospital where expert medical opinion was sought. In September he returned to Bradford where, at the home of his son, Mr. Seward Lee, he was cared for through a long illness by his granddaughter, Miss Charlotte Lee, while his family and his old friends came and went. The week before his death he was removed to Newmarket hospital where he passed away in his sleep early Friday morning. Born almost 93 years ago on Lot 3, Concession 11, West Gwillimbury, a son of Samuel Lee, who was also born on the same farm, and of Alice Burns of Mount Pleasant corner, who was of Scotch descent from Nova Scotia, John Lee was the third generation of Lee on that farm, his Irish grandfather having come from County Derry to settle there. In 1887 he married the late Charlotte Hodgson and they took up residence on the 12th concession of West Gwillimbury. With their family of nine they resided there until 1916 when they moved to the farm north of Bradford where their son, Seward Lee, now resides. In 1928, when their son married, Mr. and Mrs. Lee moved to Bradford. In 1937 Mr. and Mrs. Lee celebrated their golden wedding anniversary with a complete family circle. Three years later, in 1940, after Mrs. Lee's death, he returned to make his home on the farm where he was a favourite with old and young alike, remaining mentally keen to the last. For 74 years the late Mr. Lee was a member of L.O.L. No. 209, Newton Robinson, and during that long period of years he never missed an Orangemen's walk. He was also a member of the Black Preceptory. He had been at times District Master and County Master of the Orange Lodge. Several decades ago he was associated with the public life of the township and county. He and his family were also a vital part of the little Anglican Church at Pinkerton for many years. Orangeman Conservative and Anglican to these three convictions he remained staunch. Mr. Lee is survived by one son Seward of Bradford; eight daughters Mrs. Thos. Brown (Flossie) of Bradford; Mrs. R. Watt (Minnie) of Raymore Sask.; Mrs. J. Fraser (Luella) of Port Elgin Ont.; Mrs. E. Fennell (Isabelle) of Bradford; Mrs. J. Hamilton (Christine) of Ormond Florida; Mrs. P. Haller (Mina) of Ann Arbor Mich.; Mrs. Morrow (Clara) of Murillo Ont.; Mrs. K. Jack (Henrietta) of Clarkson Ont.; 28 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren; and one brother Christopher Lee of Bradford. A brother Sam and sisters Misses Jennie and Agnes predeceased him during recent years. All members of his family were here for his funeral with the exception of Mrs. Watt who visited her father last fall. The funeral service was taken by his rector Rev. W. Johnson on Monday afternoon and interment was in St. Paul's Cemetery. The pallbearers were members of L.O.L. No 209 namely John Robinson, Robt. Webber, John Parks, Ben Steers, and D. K. Harvey.

Event Date : Wednesday, May 19, 1965
Event Type : Death
Municipality : Cairo, Egypt

Description : A former West Gwillimbury Township girl was one of the two Canadians who died in the jet liner crash a few miles from Cairo, Egypt, last Wednesday, when 121 persons lost their lives. The other was her husband. The couple who perished are Mr. and Mrs. George Terry, whose home was in Elmvale, and Mrs. Terry was the former Mildred Averill, second daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Walter Averill, both of whom belonged to well known families from the Bond Head district, although Mr. and Mrs. Averill lived on Concession 9, West Gwillimbury, on what is known as the Taylor farm, and it was there that Mildred Averill and her eight brothers and sisters were born and spent their childhood. The death of Mrs. Averill, the former Murl Harvey, in the early 1940's left this big family of children motherless, but they were reliable and resourceful people and the care by the older ones for the younger won the admiration of neighbours and other friends. Mildred was the third in the family and the second among the girls. She attended Bradford High School for three years before the family left the township, and after graduation from school she went into training, for her chosen profession of nursing, at St. Joseph's Hospital, Toronto. As a graduate nurse Mildred Averill returned to her native county and nursed in Barrie and the Barrie district, where she met and married George Terry of Elmvale. Doing engineering work with a big construction company working for the Columbo Plan, Mr. Terry had been sent to different parts of the world and Mrs. Terry had been in the habit of accompanying him. In this way they had travelled widely, having resided for a period in South Africa before going to the Far East. About three years ago Mr. Terry was sent to Decca, Pakistan, and about a year later Mrs. Terry and their only son, Bill, followed him, but the conditions and the climate in that land were found unsatisfactory for both the health and education of the boy and about a year ago he was sent back to Mrs. Terry's sister, Mrs. Spence, of Barrie, and was entered in St. Andrew's College, Aurora. The families of both Mr. and Mrs. Terry knew that they were returning from Pakistan, but young Bill had not been told, they believing that the excitement of the anticipation of a reunion with his parents would interrupt his studies at examination time. Mr. and Mrs. Terry had reached Cairo on the return trip and boarded the ill-fated jet, ahead of schedule booking, when they discovered two seats were available. Twelve-year old Billy Terry was taken from school to the home of his aunt, Mrs. Spence, at Barrie, where he was told the sad news and on Sunday evening, with other members of the families and many sympathizing friends, attended a memorial service in Elmvale. This week he is back in school in St. Andrew's. Mr. Terry is survived by his mother in Elmvale and two sisters. Mrs. Terry leaves two brothers, Edward and Robert, and five sisters, Jean, Edith, Helen, Velma and Anne. Another brother, John predeceased her. Mr. D. K. Harvey, clerk-treasurer of Tecumseth Township, is an uncle of Mrs. Terry, being a brother of her late mother.