REGINALD GEORGE WOODFORD MORRISH

Reginald George Woodford Morrish, 92, of Emo, Ont., passed away Sunday, April 13, 2003 at the Emo Health Centre in Emo. He was born March 30, 1911 in Bristol, England.
Reg arrived in Canada from Bristol on April 8, 1928. He celebrated his 17th birthday on the boat while travelling here. He did framework in southern Ontario, then settled in Fort Frances. Ont. in September of 1929 and began working at the Flinders Dairy.
He then moved to Mine Centre, Ont. to pursue mink farming. It was there that he met his future wife, Madonna Marie Dumeney.
Their first years were spent in Mine Centre farming and mining at the Olive Mine. From Mine Centre, they moved to Roddick Township, where he farmed for a couple of years before moving to McIrvine and worked at the Mathieu sawmill and later at the O&M Paper Mill.
From there, he moved to Crilly, where he worked as a powerhouse operator. There he obtained his Journeyman Electrician papers, which he was very proud of.
He later moved to Burriss, where he continued his dream as a farmer. During this time, he worked for the Municipal Telephone Lines, Ontario Hydro, the Paul Lawrence Company, and Tom Ryan Electric in Emo, and shipped milk to Lowe’s Dairy and later Clover Leaf Valley Co-op Dairy.
While living in Burriss, he was a member of the Farm Forum and the board of the Burdevatt Credit Union, which later amalgamated as the Northern Lights Credit Union.
He also served on the board of directors for Clover Valley Co-op Dairy and the Burriss Township school board.
In 1958, Reg sold the farm in Burriss and moved to Crozier to begin working at La Verendrye General Hospital as an orderly. He retired from the hospital in 1976 to his cabin on Windy Point. Here, he operated his hobby farm, where he raised chickens, rabbits, goats, and chinchillas.
In September of 1990, he moved to Emo, where he had lived since.
Reg loved to take walks along the walkway in Lions Park in Emo, playing cards, and reading. Reg was a very knowledgeable man.
He also enjoyed gardening, his animals, and had a great love for nature. Reg also was known to enjoy a good argument.
He was united in marriage July 11, 1933 to Madonna, his wife of 69 years, who survives along with their children, Rheta Jeffrey of St. Thomas, Ont., Aurilla (Brian) McDonald of Dryden, Ont., Helen Morrish of Fruitvale, B.C.; Tom (Shirley) Morrish of Burriss, Ont., and Robert Morrish of Grand Forks, B.C.
Also surviving are 14 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces and nephews in England, Canada, and Australia.
He has a special niece, Marjorie Macklem of Fort Frances, Ont.; and special longtime friend, Martin Booth of Emo, Ont.
He was predeceased by his father, Thomas Richard Morrish; mother, Amelia Ellen Woodford; brothers, William, Frederick, Walter, and Albert; sisters, Alice, Kate, Nell, Ivy, Ethel, and Edna; step-sisters, Evelyn and Pearl; infant son, Joseph Frederick Morrish; grandson, Daniel Earl Jeffery; and great-grandson, Nicholas Morrish.
A funeral mass was held Wednesday, April 16, 2003 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Emo, with Fr. James Panikulam officiating. The readings were done by Nathalie Donaldson, Logan Donaldson, and Andrew Morrish.
The altar services were David and Nicholas Donaldson.
Interment took place in the Burriss Cemetery in Burriss.
Pallbearers were his grandsons, Guy Morrish, Joel Morrish, Todd Morrish, Bob Jeffery, Rick Jeffery, Gary Clinker, Ken Morrish, and Jim Morrish.
Honourary pallbearers were all of Reg’s family and friends.
In memoriam donations may be made to St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Emo, Ont.