Event Date : Thursday, April 24, 1975
Event Type : Death

Description : Fred Cook, a man who for many years was a social and political influence in Bradford, died last Thursday in York County Hospital at 73. Mr. Cook was admitted to the hospital April 6 suffering from a heart attack. Funeral services were held in Trinity Anglican Church, Bradford, on Monday afternoon with the Rector, Rev. Jack House and Bishop Hunt, a lifelong friend of Mr. Cook, conducting the service. Hundreds of friends and associates gathered in the little church on Church St. that Fred Cook served so well. Mayor Joe Magani led a delegation of members of council and the town administrative staff. Many officials representing the various surrounding municipalities also attended the special funeral service.Reeve William Gibbins of Innisfil and Simcoe County Warden Edgar Currie and Reeve Orville Hughes of West Gwillimbury attended along with municipal, church and fraternal officials. Pallbearers included George Allison, Bradford Fire Chief Ted Gapp, Chief Constable John Dudgeon, Building Inspector Bert Magloughlen, Deputy Reeve Ken Wood and Ruston Folliott. Interment was in St. Paul's Cemetery, Coulson's Hill.During his 73 years, Fred Cook's life revolved around the town of his birth, Bradford.He was actively engaged in municipal politics and for more than 10 years served as the town's deputy reeve and representative on county council. In last year's election he decided to step down from the deputy reeve's chair. However, Mr. Cook did not leave the political scene and was successful in his bid to gain a council seat.Outside politics Fred Cook immersed himself in a number of community and social organizations. He was a lay reader in the Anglican Church from 1934 until his death and was involved in Christian education serving as Sunday School Superintendent for more than 45 years. In 1962 he received a citation from the Canadian Council of Churches' education department for his outstanding work. He was also a member of the Anglican Synod of the Diocese of Toronto. Mr. Cook was a member of the Simcoe Lodge #79 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. At the time of his death he had achieved the 32nd Degree of the brotherhood. In his service to that organization, Mr. Cook served as district deputy grand master of the A.F. and A.M.'s district C". Mr. Cook also served at a grand master of the Orange Lodge for Ontario West and was a faithful member of Centennial Lodge LOL 209. Until 1957 Mr. Cook operated an insurance business in Bradford. Fred Cook is survived by his wife Leone, one sister Reta (Mrs. T. Gardner) of Bradford and one brother John of Windsor. Bradford Mayor Joe Magani commented on Mr. Cook's death saying: "It would take me hours to talk about Fred Cook. He will be very much missed on council. To me he was a real man and always a real gentleman on council. I served with him on council for 18 years and he was a great worker for the public and for the town. He did everything he could to satisfy the ratepayers at all times. He did a good job in finance. If ever I got stuck for words I could always turn to him for help."The mayor added: "He was a very beautiful man. It will take a long time to find another one like him."

Event Date : Monday, December 30, 1974
Event Type : Death

Description : At the T.L.C. Villa, Bradford, on Monday, December 30, 1974, Minnie Spence of Bradford, beloved wife of the late Archie Hammell, loving sister of the late William, Norman, Emily, Alex, Emmerson and Arthur Spence. Friends may call at the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home, 30 Simcoe St., Bradford. Service in the Chapel Thursday at 2 p.m. Interment Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Event Date : Wednesday, January 23, 1974
Event Type : Death

Description : Funeral services were held for Seward Matthew Lee, January 26 in the chapel of the Lathangue & Skwarchuk Funeral Home in Bradford. Mr. Lee died at the York County Hospital, Newmarket, Wednesday, January 23. In his 84th year, Mr. Lee was the husband of Bertha Collins and children, John D. Lee of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Mrs. Thomas (Jean) Moulding of Denver, Colo., Mrs. Peter (Charlotte) Lauback of Woodland Hills, Calif., Samuel Lee of Bradford, Mrs. A. D. (Agnes) Palmer, Newcastle, N.H., Mrs. Robert (Edith) Stone of Rexdale, S. David Lee of Lakefield, Mrs. Thomas (Margaret) Evans of Bradford and Mrs. J. Antony (Barbara) Hines of Willowdale. Mr. Lee was a highland farmer, and owned a farm just north of Bradford. He was the only son of the late John Lee and Charlotte Hodgson. He was the brother of Mrs. R. Minnie Watt of Raymore, Sask., Mrs. J. E. Fraser (Luella) of Port Elgin, Mrs. J. Christine Hamilton, of Daytona Beach, Fla., and Mrs. D. Kenneth Jack (Henri) of Clarkson .Seward Lee is also survived by 26 grandchildren. Burial was held at the Anglican Cemetery, Coulson's Hill. A Masonic Lodge Service was also held for Mr. Lee Thursday, January 24.

Event Date : Wednesday, February 28, 1973
Event Type : Death

Description : Died at Wellesley Hospital, Toronto. Of Bradford, beloved husband of Mary Brady, and dear father of Betty (Mrs. Keith Noble) of Bradford, loving grandfather of Douglas, Ronald and Barbara. Dear brother of Minnie (Mrs. Hammel) of Bradford, Emerson of Delhi and the late William, Emily, Norman and Arthur. Rested at the Lewis Funeral Home, 30 Simcoe St., Bradford. Service in the chapel Mar. 3, 1973. Interment Mount Pleasant Cemetery.

Event Date : Wednesday, February 28, 1973
Event Type : Death

Description : A life-long resident of Bradford, Alexander W. Spence of 155 Barrie St. died in Wellesley Hospital, Toronto, on February 28. Mr. Spence, 72, owned and operated Spence Lumber on Bridge St. He served on the former Bradford School Board and on the Bradford Council for several years. He was active in the conservation association, served as a Past District Deputy Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge and was a member of the United Church. Funeral services were conducted Saturday, March 3 in the Lewis Funeral Home with Rev. Robert Chapman officiating. Interment was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Surviving are Mr. Spence's wife, the former Mary Brady; one daughter, Mrs. Keith (Betty) Noble of Bradford; one sister, Mrs. Minnie Hammel of Bradford; one brother, Emerson of Delhi and three grandchildren, Douglas, Ronald and Barbara.Three brothers and one sister, William, Norman, Arthur and Emily are predeceased.

Event Date : Saturday, January 27, 1973
Event Type : Death

Description : Funeral services were held on January 30 at the Lewis Funeral Home in Bradford for Elgar P. J. Houghton who died suddenly at his home on the farm of Allan Houghton in Newton Robinson. He was in his 84th year. He was born in West Gwillimbury Township, the fifth son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Houghton of Newton Robinson, and was the last surviving member of that family of ten children. In 1911 he married Myrtle Agar of Stayner. They farmed for a number of years, then sold out and went into the fuel business, first in Elmvale, later in Bradford. He was a member of the United Church. Mr. Houghton was greatly interested in sports and presented a trophy each year to the most sportsmanlike player of the South Simcoe Baseball League. He was a charter member and first president of the Senior Citizens' Club of Bradford. He is survived by his wife, one daughter, Muriel (Mrs. K. O. Melbourne) of Toronto, two sons, Gordon of Vancouver, B.C., and Lloyd of Burlington, Ont. Also ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren survive. Rev. H. Dahlin of Bond Head United Church officiated at the funeral service. Interment will be at Newton Robinson Cemetery.

Event Date : Saturday, January 27, 1973
Event Type : Death

Description : Died suddenly. He was the last remaining member of the family of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Houghton of Pinkerton. He had been the first president of the Bradford Senior Citizens' Club formed five years ago on July 4, 1973.

Event Date : Saturday, January 27, 1973
Event Type : Death

Description : Died suddenly at Newton Robinson in his 84th year. Beloved father of Muriel (Mrs. K. O. Melbourne), Toronto; Gordon, Vancouver; and Lloyd of Burlington. Also survived by 9 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Rested at the Lewis Funeral Home, 30 Simcoe St., Bradford. Service was held in the chapel Tuesday at 2 p.m. Spring interment Newton Robinson Cemetery.

Event Date : Saturday, October 14, 1972
Event Type : Death

Description : William John Hounsome, one of West Gwillimbury's oldest residents, passed away in his 93rd year on Oct. 14. He was born on the 13th Line of West Gwillimbury, on June 7, 1880. On March 11, 1903 he married Sarah Kain, of Richmond Hill. They had five children, Olive, predeceased, Elsie, Mrs. William Reynolds of Bond Head, Herbert of Bradford, Bertha, Mrs. Harry Reynolds of Bond Head, and Irwin, living on the home farm. Also surviving are 17 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandson. Pallbearers were Joe Reynolds, Keith Reynolds, Doug Reynolds, Bill Bridger, Ray Hounsome and Don Hounsome.The elders of the United Church of Bradford acted as flower bearers. Mr. Hounsome had retired from farming 20 years ago and had been living in Bradford where he was active in church affairs and senior citizens. Interment was in the Bond Head Cemetery.