Individual Notes
Note for: MARY ALEIN VICKERS, 18 DEC 1918 - 29 NOV 1958
Index
Occupation: Mom
Burial: Place: Eastnor Cemetary - Lion's Head, On.,
Note: Section B Row 7
Individual Note: Notes provided by her son, Richard Hatt
Marie, was born at Home on Garafraxa Street, Durham Ontario. She, as well as her brothers and sister, were farmed out to various homes in the Bruce Peninsula when their mother died. Marie went to live with the Jim Prescott at Spry. Jim Prescott had married Florence Duke and lived at Spry lot 16, Conc 3, WBR
She met her future husband while at the Prescott's - [ Mac Hatt of Spry, On. ]. He operated a beef ring with his Dad at this time and was delivering meat to the Johnsons. Nina Johnson introduced Marie to Mac Hatt. Marie turned 18 in December 1936 and was married January 30th, 1937
She became a farmer's wife, had 10 children and certainly worked from dawn to dusk every day to raise this family.
A few births were very difficult and it took its toll - Marie died of a brain hemorage before her 40th birthday.
Carl Vickers, her youngest brother, remembers that Marie and Roma Hatt were very good friends - laughing at lot together & enjoying one another's company.
She was a member of the Reorganized Church of the Latter day Saints and a chartered member of the Ladies Auxiliary Canadian Legion. Her best friend was Bernice Morris Johnston
...Note from Rick & Cathy Hatt on the occasion of Bernice Johnston's 90th birthday....
From: Rick Hatt
Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2014 10:18 AM
To: Bernice Morris
Subject: 90 already
Bernice;
Cath & I feel so bad about not getting up to Wiarton for your 90th. WE had planned to be there - however the flood in our basement has to be looked after this week-end - a lot of damage was done & drywall & carpeting has to be removed.
It hardly seems possible that we are celebrating your 90th. Maybe, you did not count properly & you are only 89.
My Mom would have been in her 96th year - what I would give to have her still part of our lives. Your Girls are very lucky to have you in their lives.
When I and my brothers look back on our lives on the farm, the Johnstons are always part of our extended family and the stories flow and get better every year. We all treasured those years - they were simple, fun and about family.
You and I will have to get caught up at a later date this winter
In the meantime, enjoy your day with your family & friends ( some of my brothers will be there )
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BERNICE;
All our Love;
Rick & Cath
Bernice's Rely:
Thanks for your kind words Rick .
It was great to talk to you . and I am sorry you are not able to come .
I will be 90 as figures do not lie .I have missed you mother all these years
as she was my best and closest friend .and your Dad and Moroni were very close .
Definitely died too young . I had forgotten her age so will make note .
I am looking forward to seeing some of the “Hatt “family . I am hoping Len
comes as I have not see him in a number of years .
You know his second name is Paul and your Mom and Dad gave him that name
because it was my favourite boys name and I tried so hard ???? but never had a boy to call Paul
Always thought that was so nice of them .
I have always loved you guys the same as if you were my own .
So do take care Rick and am looking forward to a good visit .real SOON .
Love to your good wife too
Bernice .
Individual Notes
Note for: GERALD FRANCIS HATT, 9 JAN 1938 -
Index
Occupation: Bell Canada / Self Employed
Individual Note: Gerald worked for Bell Canada for 19 years - resigning in 1976 to move back home to Lion's Head, On., to take over a Hardware Building Centre at Ferndale. He eventually converted the Centre to a Motel ( Satellite Motel ) and finally as an office for MTI Satellite - Sales & Service
Individual Notes
Note for: JOHN DAVID HATT, 2 JAN 1939 - 11 NOV 2018
Index
Occupation: Armed SVCS/Self Empl. - Gas Fitter
Event: Date: 23 JUN 2012
Place: Walkerton, On.,
Note: John J.D. Hatt
Obituary
1939 - 2018
Veteran of Canadian Armed Forces - of Walkerton, peacefully at South Bruce Grey Health Centre in Walkerton on Sunday November 11, 2018 at the age of 79 years. Beloved husband of Gerda (nee Spangenberg). Devoted father of David (Prescila), of Vaughn, Wendy, of Chesley, and Norman (friend Donna), of Toronto. Cherished grandfather of 9 and great-grandfather of 3. Brother of Gerald, Roy, Joyce, Rick, Doug, Len, and Ken
Sadly missed by his many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his parents, John(Mac) and Marie; a brother Douglas; and an infant sister, Brenda. A Legion Memorial Service to celebrate J.D.’s life and service to his country will be held at the Thomas C. Whitcroft Peninsula Chapel, 171 Berford St., Wiarton (519) 534-5341 on Saturday November 17, 2018 at 2 o’clock, with visiting one hour prior to service. Cremation has taken place. Donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Alzheimer Society would be greatly appreciated. Condolences may be expressed online at www.whitcroftfuneralhome.com
Burial: Place: Eastnor Cemetery, Lion's Head, On.
Note: Urn was buried on top of Douglas Hatt's Grave site, Eastnor cemetery, Lion's Head
Individual Note: John David Hatt - Eulogy, November 17, 2018
Good afternoon everyone - my name is Richard Hatt - a brother of John David Hatt. We all view this day as a celebration of his life.......
Born to John Malcolm Hatt & Marie Alein Vickers January 2, 1939
John David (J.D.) as he was known in Lion's Head, lived in many places in the Spry area and, for a period of time, in Stokes Bay. Later he attended public school at Spry - SS # 2 Eastnor- a school consisting of 8 grades (20-30 kids) and one teacher. In 1941, Dad moved the family to Toronto (Mimico area) where he was a carpenter at Anaconda Brass. That did not last too long as Dad joined the War Effort and moved his Family to Wiarton while he was away.
Shortly after Dad returned from the War, he bought a farm in Spry in 1947 and moved his Family to Spry - Conc. 2 Lot 19 WBR. Now, Gerald, JD, Roy and Joyce were farmers - there was lots of work and a big family to get it done. The day went like this - every day;
Up at 6 AM milk cows, clean pens, feed cows - breakfast - wash up and get ready for school - walk home for lunch - home at 4PM do chores - Supper - more chores - feed animals - homework - bed and at precisely 6 AM the loud unmistakable yell from the bottom of the stairs, "TIME TO GET UP". Our younger brother Doug was heard to say at one time after the wake up call, "I am going to shoot him", with love.
The routine never varied except that you worked longer hours during haying and harvest time.
J.D. grew up on his Dad's farm, worked the farm & left for the Army on December 12th, 1956. SERVICE UNIT # SA126825 - 1ST Battalion CND Guard. He basically joined the army to get some space between him and the farm. He said that he needed a change.
He spent 3 years in training in CFB Petawawa and in 1959 was part of the Peace Keeping Force in Germany. While stationed in Germany, he met his future wife Gerda. They married in Germany in 1962 and returned to Canada to live in 1963. Dad and his brother Wes picked JD and his family up at the train station in Toronto and went north to the farm. J.D. was assigned to CFB Picton and went back to Picton to find a place for his family to live & they settled in CFB accommodations.
In 1964 / 1965, he was part of the Cyprus Peace Keeping Special Services Force - "Operation Snowgoose". J.D. returned to Canada in 1965 and retired from the Armed Forces. He received the Canadian Peace Keeping Service Metal.
J.D. was not as boisterous as his brothers but always had a little smirk on his face. Family was everything to my brother. His son David was born in Germany, his beautiful daughter Wendy was born in Picton and son Norman was born in Colbourg - Norman always had lots of hair ,but then so did his father and his father. All three gave a new prospective on Cramer. JD was a husband, a father, Grandfather and Great Grandfather and how he loved them all. He talked about his kids and grandkids to us a lot. We always knew what they were up to as he took a lot of pride in what they were all doing with their lives
He worked for Winchester Rifles in Colbourg for a period of time but eventually went back to school and received his gas fitters licence. J.D. owned and operated his own Business in Gas and Pipe Fitting in Toronto. Due to health reasons, he and his family moved back to Lion's Head in 1996 - residing in Ferndale. Working and repairing furnaces and burners took a toll on him.
The Ferndale home was called the crooked house as it had a slight lean to the north. This home was always warm and very comfortable. We had a work bee there one week-end and straightened the floor and installed new cabinets and did some re-wiring (perfect). The inside was now straight - the outside did not change. My grandchildren loved to go there as he raised chickens in the house for a period of time. They thought this was the greatest. During one visit, my 3 year old granddaughter, Rebecca, surprised Uncle JD at the back of the house. He was just butchering some of the chickens unaware of her presence. This was not so great for Rebecca as she had been playing with them the day before and returned to her parents sobbing and a little white in colour. Uncle JD tried desperately to cover up his actions however his white apron told the tale.
J.D. and Gerda moved to Mildmay, On., end of January 2011 to 16 Absalom St., W., and then moved to Chesley in 2012. Currently , they live in Walkerton, On.,
On July 23, 2012, we had a surprise 50th anniversary luncheon for J.D. & Gerda at Dunkeit Tavern in Walkerton. His brothers and sister and their spouses were in attendance. It was to be a surprise until I went to retrieve a camera out the back door, & ran in to the guests of honour. The surprise was somewhat tempered & I was somewhat unpopular for 15 minutes.
STORIES
Rick
1/ My Dog Pete
During one leave from the army, J.D. brought a dog home - short haired colley - he called him Pete and he would train him to do what a dog is expected to do on a farm:
. bring the cows up for milking
. keep the coons out of the corn patch
. Keep ground hogs from digging holes in the fields
J.D. taught him well before he went back to base
. chased the cows around in circles - never in a straight line as he went for the head. Bulls that came on to the property were chased off but went thru fences in 2 or 3 places
. when we went hunting you only got 1 shot because Pete was chasing the bullet
. he chased away the coons but not before the corn patch was totally destroyed
. Dad was never impressed with Pete but we youngers were.
2/
I wanted J.D. and Gerda to meet my girlfriend while they were in Picton - so we drove to Picton one afternoon to do just that. Every thing was going just fine for the afternoon - sitting on the couch, having a drink and chatting.
J.D. was in the middle of a story and suddenly he pulled out a Gas Powered Pellet Pistol from under a cushion on the chair and fired off a couple of rounds. In jubilation he shouted that he had been trying to kill that mouse for a couple of weeks. My girl friend was somewhat stunned by what just happened and J.D. continued with his story like nothing happened. He had quite a laugh about it later and bragged ONE SHOT from 25 feet.
I have been a member of the Royal Canadian Legion for many years - the last 5 as the Service Officer. This assignment is to aide Veterans negotiate the RED tape to get assistance for Care, Housing, Hearing etc. It is a very satisfying, personally and I still enjoy it. I worked a lot with the Provincial Service Officers in Ontario and during these discussions one day, I was asked if I knew John Hatt. I said YES, he is my brother. His comment was, "Oh My". Your brother knows us all by name and is a regular caller and obviously studied our bylaws. He was refused coverage on items that he brought up but he does not GIVE UP. He has found wrinkles in the bylaws and re-applies in different ways and he has won. He asked me what John did for a living and I replied, "He talks to you". We had quite a laugh about this but the Service Officer had it right - He NEVER gave up
I know that the family has some things to say about their Grandfather
Ask if others have any stories about John David
On behalf of his family, thank you all for coming today to help everyone celebrate this very incredible life of John David Hatt
The family also wishes to thank the Royal Canadian Legion Br. 208 in Wiarton for honouring his military past.
Lest we forget
Remembrance day will take on a new perspective for our family, that I am sure of.
Light lunch for everyone and comradeship