Alfred Wyllie "Wyllie" Watson

1896 - 1965  (68 years)

• Name	Alfred Wyllie "Wyllie" Watson
  Born	20 Nov 1896	Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada   [1, 2, 3]
  Gender	Male
  Interesting	business, life
  Residence	1911	Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Presbyterian
  Military	1917
  	WW1
  	Enlisted 12 September 1917, in Toronto, with the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Forces, Highland Light Infantry of Canada (Regimental #2590857), serving overseas with the Mechanical Transport. While delivering a message on a motorcycle, he was gassed resulting in him spending time recovering in a Muskoka Sanatorium after the war....1a 1aKitchener Public Library '96 Soldier Information Card Collection '96 World War One
  Misfortune	gassed in WW1
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-57792
  Died	20 Sep 1965	Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada   [3]
  Buried	22 Sep 1965	Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  Person ID	I57792	Generations
  Last Modified	9 Jun 2025

  
  

  Father	Reeve Alfred Edward Watson,   b. 20 Dec 1860, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 26 Feb 1943, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 82 years)
  Mother	Jennie Wyllie,   b. 1863, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 19 Jun 1898, Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 35 years)
  Married	18 Nov 1890	Ayr, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  Family ID	F14919	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Helen Alma "Alma" Quance,   b. 2 Aug 1896, Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. 31 Jul 1949, Hamilton, Wentworth Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 52 years)
  Married	Nov 1930
  Children	1. Mary Elizabeth Watson   2. John Watson
  Last Modified	10 Jun 2025
  Family ID	F49769	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Sara Margaret "Sadie" Crawford,   b. 1896,   d. 13 Jan 1988, Goderich, Huron Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 92 years)
  Married	1948
  Last Modified	10 Jun 2025
  Family ID	F49770	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Alfred Wyllie Watson Passes The village was saddened on Monday by the death of one of its most prominent and highly esteemed residents, Alfred Wyllie Watson, who passed away in Wellesley Hospital, Toronto, in his 69th year. He had been in ill health for some time. Mr. Watson had been associated with the family firm of John Watson Mfg. Co. Ltd. nearly all is life, and had been president since the death of his father in 1943. The company, which is Ayr's oldest industry, was founded by his grandfather in 1847, and has been of vast influence in Ayr's economy over the decades. Although born in Winnipeg, he came to Ayr with his parents, the late Alfred E. Watson and Jeannie Wyllie, when he was only 1 ½ years old. Both parents were form families who were early Ayr pioneers and he was proud of these deep roots in this village. This close identification with Ayr's history and deep concern over the village's well-being prompted Mr. Watson to be a benefactor to many worthwhile projects over the years. His concern for Ayr's citizens was felt by many who had sought his advice on a multitude of personal problems, and always came away with the sound advice they knew they would receive. At various time over the years he held executive posts with various organizations. Among them were the Ayr Cemetery Company, of which he was vice-president, and the Waterloo County Historical Society which he served as an Ayr representative for some years. Mr. Watson was a valued member of Knox United Church. He was a well-known sports enthusiast here, and is particularly well remembered by the Ayr Vets softball club for his helpful assistance in bygone years. In early days he played hockey and his interest in the game remained over the years - mainly as a booster for the minor hockey system here. Mr. Watson was also an enthusiastic curler and golfer in former years. Mr. Watson received his elementary education at Ayr schools and later attended Galt Collegiate and Ridley College, St. Catharines. He served overseas with the Mechanical Transport during World War I and was a casualty from a gas attack. He was sadly conscious of the gradual passing of first World War veterans here and had commented only recently on the fact that he was the last surviving veteran of that war who had enlisted from Ayr and served in France. Following his return from overseas, he immediately became associated with the management of the family firm, and had served as president since his father's death in 1943. Under his guidance the firm underwent many changes and renovation, in both product and procedures. Surviving, besides his wife, the former Sara Crawford, are a daughter, Mrs. James M. Donnelly (Mary Elizabeth) of Goderich, a son, John Wyllie Watson of Toronto; a sister, Mrs. James H. Lovett (Dorothy) of Toronto, and several grandchildren. He was predeceased by his first wife, Alma Quance, in 1940. The Funeral Private funeral service was held at Ayr today (Wednesday) conducted by Rev. D. E. Willis of Knox United Church and Rev. W. J. V. Buchanan of Hamilton, a former pastor here. Interment was made in Ayr Cemetery. The pallbearers were: Arthur Underwood, William Underwood, Henry Iles, Wallace Gillespie and Don Page, all of Ayr, and Lachlan Arthur of Morrisburg. The Ayr News Sep 23 1965 pg 1

  
  

• Sources

  [S326] Census - ON, Waterloo, Ayr - 1901, Ayr (Village) A Page 3. [S1282] Census - ON, Waterloo, Ayr - 1911, p 9. [S367] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Ayr - Ayr Public CC#4489 Internet Link . [Front-Northeast] Mary Urie/ wife of/ John Watson/ died Apl. 5th 1851/ aged 24 Yrs./ Elizabeth Dolman Watson/ died Oct. 29th 1944/ aged 78 years/ Mary Urie Watson/ died Sept. 13th 1950/ aged 84 years/ Alfred Edward Watson/ died Feb. 26th 1943/ aged 83 years/ Jennie Wyllie/ Wife of/ Alfred E. Watson/ Died June 19th 1898/ Aged 35 Years/ Helena Alma Quance/ Wife of/ A. Wyllie Watson/ Died July 31st 1949. [Left-Southwest] John Watson/ born at/ Glasgow, Scotland/ June 12th 1820,/ died/ Dec. 14th 1903,/ aged 83 years, 6 Mos./ Elizabeth Ann Dolman/ wife of John Watson/ died Sep. 12th 1866;/ aged 37 Yrs./ H. McKallor/ wife of/ John Watson/ died July 26th 1888/ aged 61 Yrs./ William Dolman Watson/ Died April 15, 1907/ Aged 54 Y'rs./ Jessie Murray Watson/ died March 23, 1947/ aged 89 years/ Watson [Back-Southeast] Children of John Watson/ Robert/ died Jan. 13th 1860/ aged 5 Yrs. & 5 Mos./ Anna Maria/ died Jan. 19th 1860/ aged 2 Yrs./ Charles Jerome/ died Aug. 24th 1869/ aged 11 Mos. & 17 Dys./ James Hillman/ died Nov. 3rd 1874/ aged 18 Yrs. & 9 Mos./ Margaret/ Sister of John Watson/ Died May 19th 1873/ Aged 45 Yrs./ Emily B. U. Watson/ Wife of/ Charles F. Bryant/ Died May 23rd 1888/ Aged 25 Years. [Right-Northwest] Sara Margaret Watson/ died Jan. 13, 1988/ aged 91 years/ Alfred Wyllie Watson/ died Sept. 20, 1965/ aged 68 years/ Daisy Ellen Watson/ only daughter of/ Margaret and John G. Watson/ died Feb. 18th 1901/ aged 23 years/ John William Watson/ only son of/ Margaret and John G. Watson/ Died July 14th 1945/ Aged 73 Years/ John George Watson/ Died Oct. 11th 1918/ Aged 71 Years/ Margaret Boyd Hall/ Wife of/ John G. Watson/ Died Dec. 22, 1928/ in Her 80th Year. [S4] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration. Name: Jennie Wyllie Age: 27 Birth Date: abt 1863 Birth Place: Ayr Marriage Date: 18 Nov 1890 Marriage County or District: Waterloo Father: John Wyllie Mother: Margaret Pringle Spouse: Alfred Edward Watson Spouse's Age: 29 Spouse Birth Date: abt 1861 Spouse Birth Place: Ayr Spouse Father: John Watson Spouse Mother: Elizabeth Dolman

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 20 Nov 1896 - Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Residence - Presbyterian - 1911 - AYR, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 20 Sep 1965 - Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Buried - 22 Sep 1965 - Ayr Cemetery, Ayr, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth