Event Date : Friday, November 16, 1956
Event Type : Death
Municipality : Barrie, Ont.
Community : Other - Bradford
Street :
Lot :
Concession : 0
Description : The northern section on West Gwillimbury Township has lost one of its most esteemed residents in the passing of Herbert A. Hughes in Royal Victoria Hospital, Barrie, on November 16, 1956. Mr. Hughes has been in failing health for a considerable time and only the wonderful vitality, for one of his advanced years, prolonged life to that date. Mr. Hughes was in his 80th year.Born at Fennell's Corners, Mr. Hughes had spent his entire life there. Always interested in sports he had been an ardent football and baseball player in his younger days, and his enthusiasm never waned when years made active participation impossible. For many years he was manager of the Fennell's Ball Club and his interest when his team was playing made him almost as active as the participating players. When the Fennells boys played, Mr. Hughes' every movement indicated the progress of the game. No small boy fan could have thrilled to a ball game with more enthusiasm than did Mr. Hughes, even in very recent years. Fennells has lost something very inspiring in the passing of this always young in spirit gentleman.In 1909, Mr. Hughes married a young lady from the neighbouring Steele's Corners district, Miss Mabel Bell. She predeceased him in 1931. The family of four sons and one daughter all reside in the same section of West Gwillimbury. The four sons are all at Fennells, namely Herbert J., Ernest F., Ross E., and Kenneth B. Hughes, and their only daughter, Mary, (Mrs. John Hambly) is in the Coulson's Hill neighbourhood. One brother, Jim, and one sister, Ethel (Mrs. Robertson), both of Toronto, and nine grandchildren also survive.Mr. Hughes was a farmer, only retiring in 1950 when his son took over the farm responsibilities. He was an active member of St. Paul's Anglican Church, Coulson's Hill, and also a member of the Orange Lodge and the Canadian Order of Foresters.The funeral was held from his late residence on Monday afternoon with his rector, Rev. W. Johnston, assisted by a former rector and personal friend, Rev. T. J. Dew of Mimico, conducting the services. Interment was in St. Paul's Cemetery, Coulsson's Hill.The pallbearers were neighbours and long time friends, namely, Matthew Kneeshaw, Ross Neilly, Howard Bolton, Harold Matthews, Jack Baker, Wm. Marling.The beautiful flowers included those from the Liberty Hunt Club, the Sherriff's in Barrie, Fennell's Ball Club, West Gwillimbury Township Council, and the Fennell's Corners community.The bearers for the flowers were Albert Wood, Arthur Kneeshaw, John Kneeshaw, Bert Coleman, Frank Todd, Russell Stewart, Earl Dales, Douglas Kneeshaw, Wm. Moriarty, John Hughes, Lewis Cronan and John Cronan.
