WILLIAM ANGUS FERRIS

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WILLIAM ANGUS FERRIS 1909 2007 Peacefully, on Thursday, August 16, 2007, William (Bill) Ferris passed away at the Treherne Personal Care Home, Treherne, Manitoba. He was loved, and will always be remembered, by his wife Marie (Larson); daughter Kate Ferris and son-in-law Fred Casey (Winnipeg Beach, MB); son Les and wife Heather; grandson William; granddaughter Karen; brother Tom (Brandon); sisters, Ellen Rutherford (Holland), Dorothy Caslick (Red Deer, AB) and Elsie Murray (Moose Jaw, SK), and brother-in-law Bernard Goekoop (Rivers, MB) as well as many, many cousins, nieces and nephews in both the Ferris and Larson families. He was predeceased by his parents, Lewis and Annie Ferris; brother Allen and sister-in-law Myrtle (nee Naswell); sister Irene and brother-in-law Bill Kerr; sister Iola; sister Alice and brothers-in-law Earl Robinson and Ralph Ballantyne; sister Beatrice and brother-in-law George Down; sister Emily (died in infancy); brother-in-law Robert (Bob) Rutherford; sister-in-law Mary Ferris (nee Harrison); brothers, Elliot and Harold; sister Mae and brother-in-law Bill Taylor; brothers-in-law Alvin Caslick and Sandy Murray. In his extended family he was predeceased by parents-in-law Olaf and Maria Larson; brother-in-law Lawrence Larson; sisters-and-brothers-in law Isabel and Howard Livingston, Lillian and Bill Robertson, Gladys and Jack Later, Mildred and Barney Mollot, Hazel and Oswald Sorflaten, and Rhoda and Con Peterson. Bill was born during a huge wind storm on October 19, 1909 in the farm district of Camille, north of Holland, Manitoba to Lewis and Annie Ferris, the fourth eldest in a family of 14 children. The family farm in Camille Section 23-8-11 had been homesteaded by his Granddad, William Ferris, in 1879, then worked by his father Lewis. After the death of his father in 1929, it was up to Bill to run the family farm, and with his characteristic dedication he accepted this responsibility of keeping both family and farm strong. To his youngest three sisters, he was as much a father image to them as a brother. In 1942, during the Second World War, he joined the RCAF and served with the Motor Transport Division at Paulson, MB and then in Watson Lake, Yukon. He brought home many photographs and stories of his time there. After being discharged in 1946, Bill returned to the farm. In 1950, proving that good things come to those that wait, he married Marie Larson of Starbuck. In 1953 they tore down the huge, old house brick by brick, carefully cleaned them, and built their new home. Also in 1953 they were joined by their daughter Kathryn Ann (Kate), and two years later by their son, Leslie Olaf (Les). Bill farmed with his brother Allen until 1972, and then with his son Les until 1977. He was active in the Pool Elevator, was a trustee for Camille School, served three terms on the R.M. of Victoria council, and was a lifetime Mason. For several seasons he was the statistician for the South-Central Hockey League, and enjoyed many hours of keeping up the records and statistics. He continued to help on the farm until he and Marie retired into town in 1983. Never one to be idle, he and Marie were active in helping establish the New Horizons centre in Holland, where they spent many happy times playing cards and joining in the activities. Bill and Marie also traveled to the East Coast, Hawaii, Europe, and Alaska. At the age of 88 he was still helping by driving for Meals on Wheels, and at the Manor in Holland, often walking over to change light bulbs for some of the old people. Of course, the fact that most of them were younger than he was seemed to escape him! Music was always an important part of Bill's life. As he grew up, he and his brothers and sisters played in the Camille Orchestra where he played saxophone. While he didn't continue playing, his love of music never waned, and the staff of the Treherne Personal Care Home mentioned that during the Worship services Bill would still sing out loudly, and knew the hymns by heart. Bill was a storyteller. Growing up, he would listen to the old stories from his Grandfather William, and delighted in retelling them over the years, resulting in many of the family expressions and in-jokes we use today. He often marvelled at his Granddad living to be 95 years of age. Little did he know that he would exceed that age himself by several years. Bill was a man of strong principals and convictions. He believed in treating others the way he would want to be treated, and the most important things in his life were his family, his faith, and his community. He was proud that his son Les was the fourth generation to work the Ferris farm. When his children married Les to Heather Falloon in 1988 and Kate to Fred Casey in 1995 - he loved his children-in-law as his own. And his pride in his grandson, William, and granddaughter, Karen, knew no bounds. But his greatest love was for Marie - his wife and companion of 57 years. A service celebrating Bill's life will be held on Monday, August 20, 2007 at 2:00 pm at the Holland United Church, Holland, MB with Rev. Jim Haupt officiating. Our family would like to express our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the staff of the Treherne Personal Care Home for the wonderful care they gave Dad over the past year, the Glenboro Personal Care Home staff, and to the HomeCare workers who assisted while he was still at home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Holland United Church Memorial Fund, the Treherne Personal Care Home Activities Fund, or a charity of one's choice. Forever remembered, Forever loved. Jamieson's Funeral Services, Glenboro, MB 204-827-2480 in charge of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 20, 2007