5.7.2.7. M. Viola Hunter (1920-1996)

Mary Viola Hunter (1920 ~ 1996)

5.7.2.7. Seventh child of Mary J. Ferguson and James Hunter, Mary Viola Hunter, was born April 20, 1920, in Proton Twp., Grey Co., Ontario.

She married Alfred Earl Bilton, son of Alfred Bilton and Jennet Elizabeth Tebby, February 26, 1944, in W. Luther Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, and had four children:

(5.7.2.7.1) Bevin Earl (1946 ~ )
(5.7.2.7.2) Murray Emmerson (1949 ~ 1964)
(5.7.2.7.3) Mary Jennet (1951 ~ )
(5.7.2.7.4) Raymond Elgin (1966 ~ )

M. Viola Hunter Bilton died July 20, 1996, aged 76 years, in Guelph, Ontario and A. Earl Bilton died February 27, 1970, aged 52 years in Mount Forest, Ontario and are interred at Mount Forest Cemetery.

----- OBITUARIES -----

M. Viola Hunter Bilton

Sincere sympathy on behalf of old friends here is extended to the Bilton family and all who remain to mourn the passing of Viola (Hunter) Bilton at Guelph General Hospital on Saturday, July 20, 1996. She was in her 77th year. Mrs. Bilton and her late husband, Earl, were residents of Cedarville community for many years, farming on the 8th Concession of Egremont until they moved to Mount Forest in the 1960s. The visitation on Sunday and funeral on Monday, July 21, were largely attended by relatives, neighbors and friends. Mount Forest Confederate, Aug. 7, 1996.

A. Earl Bilton

March 1, 1917 ~ February 27, 1970

Alfred Earl Bilton passed away at Louise Marshall Hospital on Friday, February 27, 1970, after a lengthy illness. He was in his 53rd year.

Mr. Bilton was born in Egremont Township, a son of Mrs. J. E. Bilton, the former Jennet Tebby, and the late Alfred Bilton. In 1944 he was married to the former Viola Hunter. They farmed on Concession 7 Egremont Township until October, 1965 when they moved to Mount Forest.

He is survived by his wife; one daughter, Jennet; and two sons, Bevin and Raymond. He was predeceased by one son, Murray, in 1964. Also surviving are his mother, Mrs. J. E. Bilton, Mount Forest; one sister, Tena, Mrs. Donald McEachern, Guelph; two brothers, George, Watson Lake, Yukon; and Fred, Temagami, Ontario.

The funeral was held from Gardiners Funeral Chapel on Saturday, February 28, with the Rev. G. W. Wright assisted by Dr. A. F. Lavender, conducting the service and interment in Mount Forest Cemetery.

The pallbearers were William Arthur, Archie McIntyre, John and Donald McMillan, Wilbert Petty and William Smart.

The flower bearers were George Ellis, Perry Samuel, Alvin Adams, James and Robert McEachern.

Relatives were present from Iron Bridge, Temagami, Orillia, Owen Sound, Oshawa, Toronto, Enniskillen, St. Thomas, Kitchener, Guelph, London, Hamilton and the surrounding district. Mount Forest Confederate, Mar. 5, 1970.

Murray E. Bilton

September 11, 1949 ~ October 12, 1964

Murray Emmerson Bilton was the victim of an unfortunate and tragic accident on Monday, October 12, 1964. Born in Guelph on September 11, 1949, he was a son of Alfred Earl Bilton and Mary Viola Hunter. He is survived by his parents, an older brother, Bevin Earl, and one sister, Mary Jennet, both at home, and his grandmother, Mrs. J. E. Bilton.

He was a great lover of outdoor sports and also of wild birds of which he had several varieties. He was a Mount Forest District High School student and this year was taking the Agriculture Course offered at the Norwell District High School at Palmerston. He had planned to attend the Department of Lands and Forests School at Dorset.

The funeral, which was largely attended, was held from the Gardiner Funeral Chapel on Wednesday, October 14, and was conducted by the Rev. D. A. Brydon, B.S.A., of Mount Forest United Church. He was assisted by Mr. Stephen Shantz of Cedarville United Church. Interment was in Mount Forest Cemetery.

The pallbearers were neighbors: Messrs. Bill McArthur, Bill Arthur, T. J. Anderson, Arthur McIntyre, Alex Buchanan and Gordon Ferguson.

The beautiful floral tributes of which were a great many, showed the high esteem in which Murray was held. They were carried by Brian Hunter, Bobbie and Glen McEachern, Laverne and Beverly Ferguson, Lyle Bender, Erwin Arthur, Verdon Ellis and Larry McMillan.

Friends and relatives attending from a distance were from Elliot Lake, Orillia, Collingwood, Toronto, Richmond Hill, Peterborough, Oshawa, Burketon, Enniskillen, Guelph, Kitchener, Grand Valley and the surrounding district. Mount Forest Confederate, Oct. 22, 1964.

Alfred Bilton

May 13, 1877 ~ September 11, 1924

On September 11, 1924, there passed away to the Great Beyond a highly respected, kind and loving father, in the person of the late Alfred Bilton, at his home on the seventh of Egremont.

His health had been failing for the last three years and about three weeks before he passed away, his strength gave way, and he had to take to his bed, all of which he bore with great patience. He was conscious up till the last and his death was not unexpected.

The deceased was born on May 13, 1877, in Luther. He moved with his parents to Egremont, Lot 26, Concession 6, where he lived till he married Lizzie Tebby, daughter of the late William Tebby, in December, 1909, then moved to Lot 26, Concession 7, back of his father’s farm, where he lived until he died.

He leaves to mourn his loss, his wife, sons, George, Earl and Freddie, and daughter, Tennie, also his father and seven sisters, Sarah, Mrs. William Merrit, of St. Thomas; Jennie, Mrs. Herbert Payne and Mary, Mrs. George Ireland of Saskatchewan; Ada and Cassie at home; Nellie, Mrs. William Adams, Proton; Margaret, Mrs. Richard Morley, Arthur; one sister died in infancy and his mother predeceased him thirteen years ago. Rev. Mr. Drinnan, his pastor, conducted the funeral service at the house and grave. A large crowd followed his remains to its last resting place in Mount Forest Cemetery.

The pallbearers were his six brothers-in-law, Mr. William Merritt, Herbert Payne, George Ireland, William Adams, Richard Morley and Oliver Tebby.

Many floral wreaths were placed on the casket by family relatives and friends showing love and respect for one though dead, yet lives in the memory of all who knew him. Mount Forest Confederate, Sept. 25, 1924.

Jennet E. Tebby Bilton

June 23, 1884 ~ February 17, 1974

Mrs. Alfred Bilton, the former Jennet Elizabeth Tebby, passed away at Heimstra Nursing Home, Listowel on February 17, 1974, in her 90th year.

Born in Proton Township on June 23, 1884 to the late Mr. and Mrs. William Tebby, she married the late Alfred Bilton of Egremont Township in 1909.

She is survived by two sons, George of Whitehorse, Yukon and Fred of Temagami, Ontario and by one daughter, Mrs. Donald (Christina) McEachern of Guelph.

Also surviving are three sisters, Mrs. Rachael Todd of Oliver, B.C., Mrs. Susan Lewis of Fergus and Mrs. Alice Culp of Mount Forest.

Mrs. Bilton also leaves 14 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by one son, Earl, in 1970 as well as two sisters and one brother.

Funeral service was held in the Hendrick Funeral Home, February 19, 1974 with Rev. George Wright officiating.

Friends and relatives attended from Whitehorse, Dawson Creek, B.C., Sudbury, Iron Bridge, Temagami, Erin, Guelph and the surrounding area. Mount Forest Confederate, Feb. 28, 1974.