Elby Belmont Collingwood "Roy" Livingston

1905 - 1961  (56 years)

• Name	Elby Belmont Collingwood "Roy" Livingston
  Born	14 Aug 1905	Leamington, Mersea Twp., Essex Co., Ontario, Canada
  Gender	Male
  Misfortune	accident, story, drowning
  Misfortune	1961
  	drowned
  Name	Roy Livingston
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-342086
  Died	6 Oct 1961	Muskoka District, Ontario
  Buried	12 Oct 1961	Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I342086	Generations
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

  
  

  Family	Nellie Babey,   b. 21 Apr 1913, , Surrey, England ,   d. 1990, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 76 years)
  Children	1. Richard Earl Livingston,   b. 23 Mar 1938, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. 18 Feb 1956, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 17 years)
  Last Modified	29 Jan 2025
  Family ID	F55810	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Community Shocked Double Drowning Tragedy - The Ayr community was shocked and saddened over the holiday weekend by the tragic boating accident which took the lives of two well -known residents, Roy Livingston of Ayr and John Murray, RR 3, Bright. The men were drowned in the Severn River, about midway between Orillia and Gravenhurst, on Friday night when their outboard aluminum boat capsized. The bodies were not recovered until Monday afternoon. The pair left Ayr on Friday afternoon for Mr. Livingston's cottage on the Severn, where they intended to hunt ducks. They embarked from Morrison's Creek Landing about 9.30 p.m. to make the three-mile trip downstream to the cottage. The boat was found capsized floating in the river about 11.30 by another cottage owner in the area, who towed it ashore. - Neighbors and Friends Assisted - Dragging and skin diving operations were commenced on Saturday morning by Ontario Provincial Police from Bala and Bracebridge. Several carloads of relatives and friends from this area drove to the scene to assist, and were instrumental in the recovery of the victims on Monday. - Bodies Recovered in 70 Feet of Water - The body of Mr. Murray was located about 1 p.m. in 70 feet of water, approximately a mile from the cottage. Mr. Livingston's body was recovered about four hours later, some 30 feet distant. The river, which is part of the old-Trent Canal system, widens and deepens at this point. The reason for the capsize of the boat could not be determined. Roy Livingston, 56 Years - Mr. Livingston, who was 56 years of age, was born in Leamington. He was engaged in tobacco farming in the Tillsonburg area for several years. He later took employment with Murphy Sheet Metal in Preston, where he worked for 14 years. He moved to Ayr about four years ago and commenced a heating and sheet metal contracting business. Mr. Livingston was an ardent hunter and angler. Only a few years ago he constructed the cottage on the Severn and made frequent visits to that area. He is survived by his wife, the former Nellie Babbey; a daughter, Miss Rita, and a son, Donald, both of Galt; brothers, Percy of RR 1, Drumbo, and Fred of Windsor; sisters, Mrs. Ella Lane of Simcoe, Mrs. Blanche Wexler of Trenton, N.J., and Mrs. Ethel Kenyon of Delhi. - The Funeral - Funeral service was held this (Thursday) afternoon at the W. O. Ball Funeral Home, Ayr, with interment in Ayr Cemetery. Rev. W. J. V. Buchanan officiated. - - John F. Murray, 36 Years - John F. Murray, 36, was born in Drumbo, a son of W. S. Murray and the late Mrs. Murray. He had resided in that area all his life with the exception of service with the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. Since 1948 he had grown tobacco on a farm on the 11th concession of Blenheim with his father. The late Mr. Murray was a keen sportsman. In younger years he played goal for one of fine intermediate hockey clubs in Drumbo. He later took up curling and was a valued member of Ayr Curling Club. Mr. Murray was a member of the Canadian Legion. Surviving, besides his father, are three sisters, Mrs. Ralph Watters (Jeanette), Kingsville; Mrs. Donald Brooks (Ruth), RR 1, Drumbo, and Mrs. Clifford Arner (Kirk), Agincourt. A brother, MacBeth, was killed in World War II. - The Funeral - Funeral service was held on Wednesday at the Wilson Funeral Home, Drumbo, conducted by Rev. A. M. Manson. Interment made in Avondale Cemetery, Stratford. Pallbearers were district neighbors and friends: Russell Eaton, Hugh Guthrie, James McLaren, James Burgess, Otto Swiggum and Ronald Brooks. The Ayr News Oct 12 1961 pg 1

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 14 Aug 1905 - Leamington, Mersea Twp., Essex Co., Ontario, Canada Died - 6 Oct 1961 - Muskoka District, Ontario Buried - 12 Oct 1961 - Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth