Event Date : Saturday, January 08, 1966
Event Type : Death
Description : The very sudden death of Mrs. Robert Leeson at Stevenson Memorial Hospital, Alliston, on January 8, 1966, came as a shock to her family and to all of her neighbours and other friends because she appeared to be enjoying her usual good health until the time she was stricken and moved to hospital. Mrs. Leeson had written the news items for her home territory at Newton Robinson, as she had done for some thirty years for this newspaper, on the Monday morning in time for the mail pick-up, and her correspondence appeared in the Wednesday issue of this newspaper, as it had over the long period of years, and her funeral was over before the next week's issue.The former Ida A. Phillips was born at Bond Head and was the last surviving member of a prominent family of that area. She attended school at Bond Head and later at Bradford High School. On February 28, 1912, she married the late Robert Leeson and became a resident at Newton Robinson, where she spent the rest of her life. About twenty years ago Mr. and Mrs. Leeson gave up active farming, but remained on the farm, and after Mr. Leeson's death Mrs. Leeson continued to reside in her home, and it was in that farm home that she was stricken. She loved her home and was most happy to continue living there. Newton Robinson neighbourhood and church kept her life interesting, and of special interest in the Newton Robinson Church was the U.C.W., the ladies of which held a memorial service in memory of her since her sudden passing. Mrs. Leeson's first interest was her family and her daughters, Evelyn, (Mrs. Simpson) of Rosthern, Sask., and Helen (Mrs. A. A. Smith) 3269 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, visited their mother, and their late home, with affectionate regularity. Also surviving her are three grandchildren, John, Katherine and Patricia Simpson, of Rosthern, Sask. Mrs. Leeson rested at her home until the funeral on January 11, when services were conducted by Rev. H. W. Dahlin and Rev. F. W. Newell in Newton Robinson United Church. Interment was in Bond Head Cemetery.The pallbearers were neighbours, Messers. John Robinson, Earl Bell, Cecil Johnston, Harold West, Grenville Halbert and Vernon Connell.
