May Eileen Scott

Other Events:

• Name: May Eileen Wood
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-338106
• Residence: 1978, 62 Berkley Rd., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada

Notes:

Mrs. Clayton Wood

Mrs. Clayton Wood of 62 Berkley Road, Galt, passed away Monday, January I6th in South Waterloo Memorial Hospital, Galt. She was in her 64th year. Born in Midland, she was the former May Eileen Scott. Surviving besides her husband are four daughters, Mrs. Robert (Vicki) Howell of Oriilia, Mrs. Andrew (Maureen) Cusovich of Ridgeway, Mrs. Gordon (Sally) Biller of Fort Erie and Mrs. Kevin (Susan) French of Mississauga; four sons John of Ayr, George, Michael and Pat of Cambridge; a sister Mrs. Harold (Margaret) Wanless of RR 1, Ayr; also 32 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Predeceased by a son. Resting at Coutts and Son, Galt, for service on Thursday at 2 p.m. Interment in Ayr Cemetery.

The Ayr News 18 Jan 1978 pg 9

May — Clayton Clarence Wood. Clayton (son of George Albert "Albert" Wood and Elizabeth Ella Baer) was born 23 Dec 1915, Bright, Blandford Twp., Oxford Co., Ontario; died 8 Sep 1982, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Interesting: drowning, accident, story
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-338012
• Misfortune: 1953, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Drown
• Misfortune: 1953; drowned

Notes:

AYR - The funeral of Charles Mellish, 12, who drowned yesterday afternoon in the Nith River, will be held Friday at the Ball Funeral Parlor. Burial will be in Ayr cemetery

Kitchener-Waterloo Record - 12 May 1953

__________________________________

Charles Mellish Drowning Victim

A half-holiday from school time for an enjoyable afternoon of swimming - resulted in the death by drowning on Tuesday afternoon of Charles Mellish, 12, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Wood, Ayr. The tragedy occurred at Nithvale dam before the eyes of eight young companions, when Charles, a non-swimmer, stepped off a cement ledge into seven feet of murky water.

A futile rescue attempt by Roy Hartwick, Ayr-Wrigley's road, was thwarted by the desperate struggle of the drowning lad, and he sank from sight only 15 feet from shore.

Victim Was Unable to Swim

Stanley Wright, 13, one of the group present, related the details in a shocked, unbelieving voice a half hour after the life of one of his friends had been snuffed out. A public school music festival at the Community Centre gave those not participating a free afternoon and many turned toward Nithvale dam to combat the heat. Stanley had just dived from a ledge at the dam's edge when Charles, who had been standing beside him, also stepped off into the depths

Roy Hartwick Attempted Rescue

According to Stanley, his struggles were not taken seriously for a moment until he became frantic. Another youngster, Roy Hartwick, who was just approaching the dam in bathing trunks, perceived the situation and dived in to render assistance. The flailing arms of the victim grasped at the inexperienced young swimmer who was forced to extricate himself and could not effect a rescue.

Keith Goodfellow Comes to Scene

In the meantime, another companion rushed 500 yards, to the Community Centre where he met Keith Goodfellow, a teacher at Mill Creek school. Mr. Goodfellow hurried to the scene, but by that time the lad had disappeared.

Body Located 15 Minutes Later

Stanley dashed by bicycle to The News office, where he is errand boy, and informed the staff. A car, driven by S. A. Moffatt, Galt, was commandeered and carried three members to the scene. By this time the lad had been submerged for 15 minutes, but a search detail was immediately organized. The body was recovered less than five minutes later by R. A. Schmidt of The News, who located the boy about 10 feet offshore in six feet of water.

Artificial Respiration Fruitless

Artificial respiration was applied, but a short time later he was pronounced dead by Dr. R. D. Atkinson. It was a shocking experience for Charles' young companions: Stanley Wright, Donald Johnson, Douglas Dance, Ricky Merriman, Bill Makins, Gary Sippel and Roy Hartwick who were present when the tragedy occurred. The funeral will be held from the W. O. Ball Funeral Parlor on Friday, May 15.

The Ayr News May 14 1953 pg 1