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Event Date : Tuesday, May 24, 1955
Event Type : Death
Municipality : Newmarket, Ont.

Description : The passing of Mrs. Isaac Coburn in Newmarket Hospital on Tuesday, May 24, came as a great shock to her family and friends. Nearly four weeks before her death she suffered a heart seizure but it was not regarded as very severe. A week later she was moved to the hospital where she appeared to be making satisfactory progress. On the morning of May 24 she had just been made ready to have her breakfast when she passed away. A daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Hosea Wilkinson of Bradford, Mrs. Coburn, whose maiden name was Grace Ethlyne Wilkinson, had resided here for all but a few years of her life. She attended Bradford schools and being exceptionally gifted in needlework she was a milliner and dressmaker before her marriage in Toronto on January 31, 1912, to Isaac Edgar Coburn. A few years later Mr. and Mrs. Coburn returned to Bradford where they established their home. Nearly eight years ago Mr. Coburn passed away and Mrs. Coburn remained in her home with her daughter, Miss Gwenyth. Mrs. Coburn was never idle, a quality to which her home and its surroundings gave evidence. In addition to being a homemaker she was an energetic worker in the Woman's Auxiliary of her church, Bradford Presbyterian, and in Bradford Women's Institute. Mrs. Coburn is survived by two daughters, Audrey (Mrs. Ken Keith) of Bracebridge and Miss Gwenyth at home, and one son Ross, of Dorset, Ontario. Three brothers also survive, namely Arthur, Earle and Chester Wilkinson of Toronto. A fourth brother, Fred Wilkinson, predeceased her. The funeral was held from her late residence on Thursday, May 26. The services were taken by the former minister of Bradford Presbyterian Church of which she was a member, Rev. Mr. McLarnon of Toronto. Interment was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. The pallbearers were Messrs. Robt. McMaster, R. Magloughlen, Herb. Taylor, Harvey Curry, Lorne Fines and Percy Stephenson.

Event Date : Sunday, February 26, 1984
Event Type : Death

Description : A well-known Bradford resident died this past Sunday after suffering a heart attack following a lengthy illness.Eighty-one-year-old Thomas Gardner had been a resident of Bradford since 1918 and was chosen as the town's Citizen of the Year in 1976. Mr. Gardner was born in Newmarket and moved to Bradford with his family at the age of 16. He and his father, Herbert, opened Gardner's Hardware Store on Holland St. and supplied the needs of local residents. When his father died in 1950, Thomas continued the family business. He soon married longtime Bradford resident Rita Cook and had two sons of his own, Donald and John. Don worked with his father at the hardware store until 1962. The store was sold in 1973. Mr. Gardner sat on the Bradford Board of Education for 40 years and was chairman of the board at the time Bradford Public School was built. Other accomplishments included being a member of Bradford town council, elder and active member of the Bradford United Church and superintendent of the Church's Sunday School program for 25 years. He was also president of the Red Cross at the time of Hurricane Hazel. For 30 years, Mr. Gardner was a dedicated member of the Bradford Lions. He leaves behind his wife Rita, sons Don of Simcoe and John of Willowdale, and grandchildren Jim, Dave, Jane and Peter. Funeral service will be held today (Wednesday) at 2 p.m., at the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home. Burial will take place at the Newmarket Cemetery.