Mr. and Mrs. M. Burley
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A 92nd birthday and a 67th [64th] wedding anniversary were marked in a neat little home at 404 Josephine Street last week as Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Burley looked back on their long and useful lives. Mr. Burley was born in Creemore, Ontario, on March 17, 1874. He and his wife exchanged marriage vows at Lake-of-the-Woods, Ontario, on March 19, 1899 [1902]. "Salt of the earth" is the phrase that occurs as one visits with this couple whose greatest source of pride and thankfullness is there independence. For the past two years Mr. Burley's sight has been failing and now he is able only to differentiate between darkness and light, and to see outlines of large objects. His wife, eight and a half years younger, is bothered by arthritis, and both take medicine for heart conditions. But the old man is alert and ready with a humerous retort, while the white-haired old lady is cheerful and active. She keeps her house spotless and, now and then, expresses her gratitude to a daughter or daughter-in-law for a job of vacuuming. CONTRACTOR When the Burley's were married, Mr. Burley was working on construction of the double-track from Port Arthur to |
Fort William, and he continued to take small contracts on railroad construction for several years. He was a first class carpenter and followed the trade in Ontario until 1915 when the family moved to a homestead 90 miles north of Battleford in Saskatchewan. There were 10 sons and three daughters in the family and the parents look back on the busy, happy years on the homestead. Mr. Burley farmed on two properties which totalled about half a section of land, ran a sawmill and logging show, and, occaisionally, went back to the carpenter trade. The youngsters walked two and a half miles to school and, according to their mother, had a good time with lots of fun on the farm. With their children married and scattered, Mr. and Mrs. Burley came to Alberni in the fall of 1936 and lived for awhile in the Cherry Creek District, moving to their present home in 1940. Mr. Burley was employed by the City of Alberni, retiring when he was 73 years old. As he had all his life, he continued to plant a garden each spring and he kept the grounds of his home |
immaculate. He cut brushwood to keep the home fires burning. The Burley's house was one of those damaged by the tidal wave two years ago and the couple had to move out for awhile as the building was replaced on its foundation and the interior was renovated. Mr. and Mrs. Burley have outlived five of their 10 sons. All three of Mr. Burley's brothers and his four sisters have passed on, while his wife and one sister are all that are left of a family of six. Vern, now living in Campbell River, is the oldest of 29 grand-children, and there are approximately 34 great-grandchildren. Of their remaining children, Jack lives in Alberta, Frank, Port Alberni; Kenneth, Victoria; Fred, Wellington; Roy, Vancouver; Mrs. Bruce Atkinson (IDA), Red Cross, Saskatchewan; Mrs. Bernice Mannix and Mrs. W. Hamilton (Ann), Alberni. Representatives of the three generations of their descendants called on Grandpa Burley on his birthday. Grandson Peter brought a beautifully decorated birthday-anniversary cake and there were many good wishes extended to the old couple. Mayors of the Twin Cities were among those who sent greetings and Mayor Fred Bishop called to shake hands with two respected citizens. |