LLEWELLYN o@ca.on.simcoe_county.nottawasaga.stayner.stayner_sun 2006-04-26 published
Lexie was like a warm ray of sunshine, partner says
Founded Abernant Veterinary Services in the late 1980s
By Michael
GENNINGS,
Page 1
Local
Veterinarian
Lexie
CAMERON will be remembered by family
and Friends at a memorial on May 5.
Huw LLEWELLYN,
Lexie's partner, said the memorial is from 3 p.m.
to 6 p.m. at Abernant Veterinary Services, 6725 Hwy. 26 East.
Lexie, 49, died April 13 at Sunnybrook Health Science Centre
in Toronto, after sustaining head injuries at home.
In a telephone interview Thursday,
LLEWELLYN said his partner
fell around 11 p.m. on April 11.
He said the fall happened just as they were going to bed, after
watching television, at their home in Wasaga Beach.
LLEWELLYN explained that Lexie was likely attempting to use a
bathroom in the dark, misjudged the doorway and fell down the
stairs.
He said the tumble caused a skull fracture and brain injuries.
"I was just going to bed, I heard a thump, put the lights on
and she was at the bottom of the stairs,"
LLEWELLYN said. "It's
an image I'll live with for the rest of my life."
He noted their 15-year-old son, named Cameron after his mother's
family, was asleep in the house at the time of the accident.
Paramedics were called and Lexie was raced to Collingwood General and
Marine Hospital. She was then airlifted to Sunnybrook, where
LLEWELLYN said a computed axial tomography scan was done. The
procedure, he added, determined there was no hope for her.
He said that Lexie's heart, lungs, liver, pancreas and kidneys
were donated to people in need of organs.
Because of how Lexie died,
LLEWELLYN said that the Huronia West
Ontario Provincial Police investigated. The process involved
talking to family and neighbours, something
LLEWELLYN said he
found understandable but also very hurtful. Police subsequently
ruled out foul play.
In talking about his partner of 20 years,
LLEWELLYN said she
was like a ray of warm sunshine.
"Lexie always put everyone before herself," he explained. "She
was an incredibly compassionate person."
He added that Lexie was honest also and had the highest standards
as a vet and a human being.
"Everyone who knew her liked her. She was a strikingly beautiful
woman as well, yet clothes and material things were of no significance."
LLEWELLYN said that Lexie was the type of person who did most
of her clothes shopping at second hand stores, often buying items
that contained purple, her favourite colour.
Born and raised in Barrie, Lexie was the daughter of Donald and
Berhta CAMERON.
For a number of years her father was the administrator
at Royal Victoria Hospital.
As a child Lexie developed a passion for riding horses,
LLEWELLYN
said, and subsequently decided to become a veterinarian.
She attended two years of pre-vet schooling at the University
of Guelph and then in 1980, after four years of study, graduated
with her degree.
LLEWELLYN said he was Lexie's professor at Guelph, although the
two did not date until about four or five years after she graduated.
He spoke of how Lexie caught his attention.
"I was her professor and I noticed that she was so well read.
She knew a lot about different things. She had a tremendous vocabulary.
I could talk with her and we got along very well."
Together the couple started Abernant Veterinary Service, on a
farm just east of Stayner, in 1988.
Because of a stream on the property, they chose the name Abernant,
a Welsh word meaning entry of the stream.
"She did the small animals and I helped with surgery,"
LLEWELLYN
recalled.
They built the business into a three-person practice that grew
by mainly word-of-mouth, he said.
LLEWELLYN, who primarily treats horses, noted he plans to keep
the vet operation open -- at some point finding a person to take
on Lexie's duties.
He said that Lexie was the type of person who loved animals and
people so much that if an owner couldn't pay for their pet's
operation it wasn't an issue.
Lexie herself had 12 horses, thoroughbred crosses, and
LLEWELLYN
said he plans to keep her two favourite.
A competitor with her animals,
LLEWELLYN said that in 2004 Lexie
flew to Scotland and northern England to compete in jumping events
over three days.
When not working she enjoyed the role of mother, was also an
accomplished pianist and big reader.
"Lexie read everything, including the Bible and she wasn't a
religious person -- she just read it as a book. Her favourite
though was true crime stories."
Travel played a big role in their lives too,
LLEWELLYN said.
The couple visited Europe extensively, Mexico, Costa Rica and
Florida.
Recently the couple purchased a farm, near Owen Sound, as a get-away
and eventually a place to live when they retired.
"Our lives perhaps appeared glamorous, but we didn't put a lot
into material things,"
LLEWELLYN said. "What we did was live
each day as if it was our last."
He encourages everyone who knew
CAMERON to attend her memorial.
He said they picked Abernant for the location because
CAMERON
was happiest there.
Donations in memory of
CAMERON can be made to Collingwood General and
Marine Hospital.
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LLEWELLYN o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2006-04-21 published
LLEWELLYN,
George
Alfred
Herbert
Peacefully, gone to be with his Lord, at Peel Memorial Hospital
on Wednesday, April 19, 2006, in his 82nd year. George, beloved
husband of 51 years of Bertha (née
WOOLRIDGE,) of Brampton. Loving
and loved father of Mark (Nanci) and of the late Stephen (Susan).
Cherished grand Georgie of Drew. Dear brother of the late Marcus
(Cynthia,) Carlton and Babs
McMASTER. He will be missed by family
and Friends. Visitation at the Scott Funeral Home, "Brampton
Chapel", 289 Main St. N., 905-451-1100 on Friday, April 21, 2006
from 2-5 p.m. Funeral Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Church of the
Holy Family (Kennedy Rd., N. of Bovaird, Brampton). Interment
to follow at Brampton Memorial Gardens. In memory of George,
donations to the charity of your choice would be appreciated.
Sign an online book of condolences at www.scott-brampton.ca
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