ARCHER o@ca.on.manitoulin.howland.little_current.manitoulin_expositor 2004-06-02 published
Cecilia Grace
(McKENZIE)
ARCHER
Cecilia Grace
(McKENZIE)
ARCHER passed away on the morning of May 25, 2004, in Houston, Texas.
(FAIRMAN)
McKENZIE, born on August 22, 1912,
in Little Current, Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada. She was preceded in death by her
husband C. Frank
ARCHER, sister Ethel
MILLER, and son-in-law Tom
ARKELL,
and is survived by daughter Marianne Arkell, brothers Donald and George
McKenzie, granddaughter Joanne (Robert) McCay, grand_son Ken (Susan)
Arkell, and great-grandchildren Jennika, Bobby, Tommy, Casey and Clint,
and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
What an interesting life Grace had, all 91 years! She began in a remote
part of the Canadian wilderness (Manitoulin Island, the largest
freshwater island in the world, she would often point out!) and lost her
mother at a young age. Her father remarried Gertrude, added two sons to
the family, and earned a living as a hunting and fishing guide to the
likes of Henry Ford and the Roosevelts. Memories of her youth back in
the early '20s included joining her father and sister on boating
excursions and spending time at Strawberry Island with grandparents,
William and Mary
McKENZIE, where her father was lighthouse keeper.
Married life began for Grace and Frank in the mining communities of Red
Lake and Elliot Lake, Ontario, again very remote areas in the
early '30s, often only accessible by plane. Grace never learned to drive
a car, but she could handle a boat! Their daughter, Marianne, brought
much joy and the two, mother and daughter, played many a card game on
those cold winter nights. When Frank's health failed, the couple moved
to the city where they worked as a team, managing apartment buildings in
Hamilton and Toronto. After losing her husband, Grace became
a 'globetrotter', traveling and enjoying family and Friends to the
utmost of her ability. In later years, she slowed down (by her
standards) and enjoyed sharing laughter with Friends and family, playing
cards and watching any sport, especially baseball and her teams: the Blue Jays and Astros.
Our Gramma Grace had a gift for making any situation, good or bad, a
better one. She had such a zest for life, a fun loving spirit, a quick
wit, and a kindness and sensitivity for others that was remarkable, yet
she was very, very humble. When you look up the meaning of the
word "grace", amongst the definitions you find 'generosity of spirit: a
capacity to tolerate, accommodate or forgive people', 'pleasing and
admirable quality', 'dignified, polite and decent behaviour', and 'gift'
and it would seem she was very well named. Anyone who knew Grace
ARCHER
will have a happy thought or memory of her, that is her gift to us, and
we will all surely miss her.
A... Names AR... Names ARC... Names Welcome Home
ARCHER - All Categories in OGSPI