CLUTCHEY
AND FLORA McRAECLUTCHEY
AND FLORA McRAEFred was the fifth child and fourth son of Mary Gerow and Joseph Clutchey I. He was born on Feb. 25th. 1873 and died on September 24th. 1964 at the age of 91 years. 'Uncle Fred' as he was fondly known to his nephews and nieces in Eastern Canada was probably the best known of all Joseph Clutchey I and Mary Jane Gerow's many children. He was the only one of the many brothers and sisters who traveled regularly amongst the different families, hence he was well known even to the eastern families.
In the Fall of 1907, Fred and Flora Clutchey along with Jim and Lou Clutchey, Mike Mulhern and Louis and Dan McRae left Brechin Ontario for Tyvan Saskatchewan. Fred and his older brother Joe both suffered from asthma and it was thought the drier air of the prairies might be good for them. Also the lure of 'free homestead land' was enticing as well. The long journey was made by rail using two rail cars to carry their goods including their animals.
In July 1910, Fred filed on a 'homestead' near Mazenod Sask. They built a small temporary one room sod hut with no windows where they spent the winter. In March 1911 Fred, with the help of brother Lou, started building a two bedroom frame house which was to become the Clutchey home. One bedroom contained a double and single bed with no room to spare. The living area was living room and kitchen combined. Their fuel was flax straw, and when necessary, cow and buffalo dung also called 'buffalo chips'. It was to this house that Joseph II, Fred's older brother and his wife Mary Koster and their family of five children came and spent the cold prairie winter of 1912/13. Four adults, a baby , and seven other children spent the winter in this two bedroom house.
In 1928 Fred built a new livery barn in Mazenod and eventually he took over the 'dray' business ( a low cart for carrying heavy loads). His first love was farming and he was the proud owner of one of the first 'threshing machines'. Fred was predeceased by Flora, and he himself passed away on September 24th 1964 at the age of 91.
| THE FRED CLUTCHEY BOYS:
Back Row L to R. John, Farquhar, Joe Front Row L to R Ambrose, Leo. Photo circa ; 1940 |
'Joe' was born Sept. 27th. 1908 in Tyvan, Saskatchewan. He served in the armed services during WW2.. After his discharge Joe worked in various places in British Columbia, and in 1950 he married Harriet (Hetty) Learmond (children) Donald James (b. 1951) who remained single. Joe passed away March 19,2000.
Leo homesteaded in Sikip, now known as Dorintosh, Sask. He married Edna May Arnesen and the family remained in this area until 1955 when they moved to Vancouver. Leo and Edna three children, Gene Frederick Martin (b. 1943 - ) who married Diane Frances Noga (children) Brian John and Richard Allan. Ann Aimee Flora (Anna May) (b. 1944) married Kenneth William McCarvill. (children). Loreen Lynn, Darren Scott, Colleen Susanne, Andrea Dawn, Christine Marie, Carol Anne.
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On July 16, 2003, Christine McCarvill sent this update on the grandchildren of Leo Clutchey and Edna Arneson I have four sisters and one brother. My eldest sister Loreen Lynn (34) was married on May 22, 1993 to Ron Stoneman. My niece Chiara Marie was born Oct.30 1993. They also have a son, Jayden Cody James, born Feb 7, 1995. Loreen lives in Cultis Lake BC., and is a crane operator. My brother Darren Scott lives in Williams Lake BC., and is finishing his teaching degree. My sister Colleen Susanne (29) was married to Ryan James Lord, On June 11 1994. Their son Austin James was born on December 25 1995. Colleen also has a daughter Morgan Susanne who was born April 15 1998. They live in Williams Lake BC where Colleen works as an office manager. My sister Andrea Dawn, (27) was married to Grant Donald Gustafson on December 28, 2002. They live in Williams Lake BC, where Andrea is a dental hygienist. My sister Carol Anne (22) also lives in Williams Lake where she is completing her teaching degree. I, Christine Marie, (24) live in Calgary AB, and will be married to Jeremiah Sebastien Seinen on August 2, 2003 I work fulltime for a software developing company, managing the accounting department.
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Terence Leo (b. 1947) married Joan Carolyn Heise (children) Andrew Scott (Drew) and Danielle Nicole.
Leo passed away in Victoria BC. on August 22, 2002. Leo's burial is to take place alongside his wife, Edna May in Woodlawn Cemetery in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Mary was the first daughter of Fred and Flora. Mary was not able to fulfill her ambition to become a nurse, but she did travel and work as a Cook and Nursemaid, in Regina, Winnipeg and Toronto. Mary's first marriage was to Edmond Michael (Mike) Mulhern. They had one daughter. Patricia Louise (b. 1948) who married Dennis Spanko.(no children) It was at the home of the Spanko's in Mazenod that the Clutchey family reunion was held in 1984. At the present time (Sept. 2002) Mary at, the age of 90, is living alone in her apartment in Gravelbourg Saskatchewan where she recently moved.
Farquhar, like his younger brother John remained single. He, as well as his older brother Joe, served in the WW2, and both saw service throughout Northern France, Belgium and Holland. On return from his military service he worked in the oil fields of Alberta. After retirement, he lived for many years with his brother John in Surrey, B.C.
John remained single and when he too returned from the service, worked in the oil fields of Alberta. He is one of the few of Fred Clutchey's children who traveled. Being of such a good nature he was a welcome guest wherever he went. John lived to see the new millenium, but regretfully passed away on January 25, 2000. John is buried in Ocean view Cemetery, in Burnaby BC., also the burial place of his brother Farquhar.
'Donalda' married Jim Kelly. The couple lived the better part of their married life in the South Porcupine in Northern Ontario. Donalda and Jim had three children. Mary Ann Rita (1935 - ) married William Kunc (children) Charles Edward and John William. Claude Allan (b. 1939 - d. 1939) Helen Marie (b. 1942 - ) married Lawrence William Hawkins. (children) Lori Ann and Mark Anthony. Donalda who is very fondly remembered by Dave Clutchey because of her kindness to his parents while the Kelly's lived in South Porcupine, reportedly passed away October 28th, 1998.
Katherine was an extraordinary woman. She was an organizer par excellence, a loving mother and doting grandmother and a great supporter of the Clutchey family history, its origins and its traditions. It was Katherine who acknowledged that 'many years have passed but we all love to recall the happy memories of our (family) home' in Mazenod. Katherine married Joseph Kelly and the couple had eight children. Clarence John (b, 1938 - ) first married Maureen Milne and they had a daughter Karen Elizabeth. His second marriage was to Alice Checknita and they had a son Michael Patrick. Clarence's third marriage was to Ilona Reichel ( no children.) Marlene Agnes (b. 1940 - ) married John Cochrane (children) Stephen John, Sheila Ann and James Scott. Lin Patrick (b. 1943 - ) married Cheryl Haney (children) Carla Marie and Diana Lynn. Dennis George (b. 1947 - 2001 ) first marriage was to Jackie Beaver. They had one son Matthew Raymond. Dennis' second marriage was to Linette Jullion. (no children). On April 4 2001 Dennis passed away at the age of 54. Adele Ann (b. 1948 - ) married Alan Hamilton (children) Sean Alan. Colette Eileen (b.1951 - d. 1971) married Norvel Jones. (no children) Sharon Jane (b. 1953 - ) married Harold Pugh (children) Jason Kelly and Naomi Dawn. Elaine Carmel (b. 1957 - 2002) Her first marriage was to Jerald Walliser. (no children) Her second marriage was to Reginald Currie. (children) Christina Colette and Colleen Kelly. Elaine was a very young 44 when she passed away April 15 2002.
.He was the youngest child of Fred Clutchey and Flora McRae. In 1952 he married Betty Warren Gordon who was a widow with two children who took the Clutchey name. (children) Betty Lou Janet (b. 1944 - ) married Grant Christenson (children) Leah Kristine and Bradley Allen. Warren William (b. 1947 - ) has two children, Celina Dorothea and Austin Louis. He is married to Shelley Barnes. Joyfully, Wilfred and Betty had one child, a son born 1953. Christopher Brian (b.1953 -) married Pamela Grover. (no children).
Ambrose was living in the Fellburn Care Center in Burnaby BC. where he died on March 6th 2004 of complications from rheumatoid arthritis.
.Once again we are grateful to Marlene (Kelly) Cochrane for keeping us updated on the Western families.
Friends and family gathered together at the Hastings Community Hall in Vancouver BC. to celebrate Fred's birthday.
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