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Event Date : Thursday, June 19, 1975
Event Type : Death

Description : Bradford lost a dedicated citizen last week when Stewart Scott McKenzie died in York County Hospital, Newmarket. For many years, Mr. McKenzie and his wife Ina, were the editorial voice of Bradford when they operated the Bradford Witness Publishing Company for a period of 37 years. Stew was a popular member of the community, working not only as publisher of the flourishing little paper but serving on the village council, the arena board and in his church. His skills in the printing trade were well known throughout the district as the publishing company served many customers over a wide area. But Stewart McKenzie's real mark on life was his zest for living. A veteran of World War I, Stew returned suffering from impaired hearing and the shock of living man's inhumanity to man. While this experience had a profound effect on his life, Stew managed to present a sunny disposition and was well loved by the community. Stewart McKenzie was the kind of man who helped make this community strong and his country strong. He felt a strong sense of responsibility toward his fellow man. Above all he was a newspaperman and one who was dedicated to making our world a little better place in which to live.He will be sorely missed.

Event Date : Friday, April 22, 1966
Event Type : Death

Description : William Cyril Selby, whose pioneer ancestors in York County became early settlers in West Gwillimbury, died in York County Hospital on April 22, following a coronary. He was the last surviving member of his family to reside in this area. Born on the 9th Concession of West Gwillimbury, 76 years ago, Mr. Selby served throughout the years of the First World War with heavy artillery. Returning after the war, to the farm of his birth, he made his home there, and that farm his life interest, until 1960, when he purchased a home on Church Street and retired to Bradford. Of a quiet and kindly disposition, he was liked by his neighbours and other friends. He was a member of St. Paul's Anglican Church. The story of the Selby family is one which reminds us of the early history of this area, his great-grandmother having been Isabel Sutherland, a Selkirk settler, and another grandparent being a U.E. Loyalist. Mr. Selby was predeceased by two brothers, Mr. Ernest Selby and Percy, one time reeve of West Gwillimbury, and by a sister, Mrs. Roy Kneeshaw (Mary). Two sisters survive him, namely Mrs. Lena B. Selby of Asbury Park, N.Y., and Mrs. Thomas (Stella) of South Orange N.J. The funeral service was held in St. Paul's Anglican Church, Coulson's Hill, with the services being conducted by his rector, Rev. W. H. Warnica, and interment in St. Paul's Cemetery. The pallbearers were Dr. Selby Kneeshaw, Messrs. Carl Bowles, Keith Bowles, Victor Sloane, John Fennell and Sam Lee. Flower bearers were Messrs. Norman Bowles, J. L. Henderson, Waldy Crossland, Thos. Brown and Seward Lee.

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 : Thursday, June 19, 1975
Event Type : Death

Description : Stewart Scott McKenzie, a man who was a strong and active force in Bradford for more than 35 years as a politician and publisher of the Bradford Witness and South Simcoe News, died last week in York County Hospital in Newmarket, last Thursday following a short illness. Mr. McKenzie was born in the Village of Paisley in Bruce County where he grew up and was educated. The former publisher of the Witness had a long tradition in newspapering and was one of four sons born to a former publisher of the Paisley Advocate. Mr. McKenzie served in the Canadian Army during World War I. When he returned after the war he resumed his newspaper career and joined the production department of the old Detroit Times. In 1931, he and his wife Ina, also a native of Paisley, moved to Bradford and purchased the Bradford Witness and South Simcoe News from publisher O. M. Seim. That began a career in this town that stretched over 35 years until the couple retired in 1968 following the sale of the Witness to Gerry and Nona Barker. During that time Mr. McKenzie involved himself not only in the production and technical side of his business, while his wife handled the paper's editorial department, but also in his community. Mr. McKenzie became active in local politics and served as a school board trustee and member of Bradford's village council. In 1937, he was one of the charter members of the Bradford Lions Club and served as one of the organization's first presidents. He was also a member of Simcoe Lodge #73 of the Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons. In addition, he served as an Elder in Bradford's United Church. Funeral services for the man who devoted so much of his life to his community were held on Saturday morning in the chapel of the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home on Simcoe Street, in Bradford.The service was conducted by Reverend Robert Chapman. Pallbearers were Norman Collings, Keith Langford, Bradford Mayor Joe Magani, Brock Evans, Charles Evans and Deputy Reeve Ken Wood. Brad Walker, George Jackson and Clarence Ritchie served as flower bearers. Interment was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto. Mr. McKenzie is survived by his wife Ina, and three brothers.