| 14. | Dr. William Gourlay Blair, MD, MDCM, MP was born on 13 Jan 1890 in Fallbrook, Bathurst Twp, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada (son of William Henry Blair and Margaret Mason Miller); died on 16 Jun 1957 in Perth, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada; was buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Perth, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada. Other Events and Attributes:
- FindaGrave Memorial ID: 39675912
- _UID: 01D309CCD1A4450ABED592660A6BD6EC2F59
- Residence-Occupant: Between 1883 and 1917, Fallbrook, Bathurst Twp, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada; Concession 11 Lot 18 (also Lots 16 and 17)Family home
- Census-Household Member: 1891, Bathurst Twp, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada; Canada
- Religion-Member: 1891, Bathurst Twp, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada; Free Church - Presbyterian
- Census-Household Member: 1901, Bathurst Twp, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada; Canada
- Census-Household Member: 1911, Fallbrook, Bathurst Twp, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada; Canada
- Occupation: 1920, Perth, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada; Physician and Surgeon
- Census: 1921, Perth, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada; Canada; Address:
North St.
Perth, Ontario
Canada
- Occupation: Feb 1922, Lanark & Renfrew Counties, Ontario, Canada; Medical officer Pembroke company of the 42nd battalion
- Occupation: 1945, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada; Elected Member of Parliament
- Residence: 1945, Perth, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada; 17 Gore Street
- Occupation: 1949, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada; Re-elected Member of Parliament
- Occupation: 1953, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada; Re-elected Member of Parliament
- Occupation: 1957, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada; Re-elected Member of Parliament
Notes:
?b?William Gourley Blair?/b? (January 13, 1890 in Bathurst Township, Ontario ? June 16, 1957) was a politician and physician. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1945 election as a Member of the Progressive Conservative Party to represent the riding of Lanark. He was re-elected in 1949, 1953 and in 1957. He was appointed to the Joint Committee on Federal District Commission and Joint Committee on Old Age Security. Prior to his federal political experience, he was a captain in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps between 1916 and 1919.
Progressive Conservative Party of Canada Member of the Parliament of Canada
Birth:
as recorded on miltiary records
FindaGrave Memorial ID:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/39675912
Residence-Occupant:
Role: Occupant
Census-Household Member:
Role: Household Member
Religion-Member:
Role: Member
Census-Household Member:
Role: Household Member
Census-Household Member:
Role: Household Member
Died:
PERTH, Ont., June 16 Of). Dr. William G. -Blair, 67, Progressive Conservative who retained his Lanark seat in the June 10 general election died today.
The Morning News
Wilmington, Delaware
17 Jun 1957, Mon ? Page 20
?b?
Dr. W.G. Blair Laid to Rest in Elmwood Cemetery, Perth?/b?
Deep regret was evidenced in Perth and District early Sunday afternoon when it became known that Dr. William G. Blair, 67, had passed away suddenly at his home. The Doctor had been in his usual good health, and had conversed with a number of citizens on the street, who were extremely shocked at his sudden passing.
Canada as a nation, together with the Lanark County and Ottawa Valley citizens, deeply mourns an outstanding citizen.
Dr. Blair was conservative member for Lanark County since 1945, and his party's official spokesman in the Commons on general health matters. His death reduces the Conservative membership in the 265-seat commons to 109. The Liberals have 104. CCF 25 and Social Credit 19 seats.
Dr Blair was re-elected last week with an overwhelming majority over the Liberal candidate Peter Burchell.
Dr. Blair was particularly active in the campaign, speaking in all parts of the Ottawa Valley and particularly in Ottawa.
?b?Mentioned for Cabinet?/b?
Had Dr. Blair lived there was every possibility that he would have been appointed to a cabinent post - possibly that of Public Health and Welfare.
His death will open the Lanark constituency and necessitates a by-election. This is the second by-election which will have to be held, the election in Wellington South having been called off due to the death of Henry Albert Hocking, former Liberal member for the riding, and one of the candidates in the June 10 election.
Dr. Blair was one of the most diligent members of Parliament during his political career. In 1951 he was the only one of his party who qualified for the Kingston Whig-Standard Fund for the Provision of Gold Stars for Diligent Members of Parliament.
Dr. Blair was among the six, of the 252 members, who voted in every one of the 29 recorded divisions between January 30th and June 30th in 1951, and qualified for a kudo by virtue of his consistent attendance to Commons business. He was noted for his punctuality in his professional, political and private life. for a number of years he donated prizes to pupils of the Perth Collegiate Institute for their perfect attendance at school.
Dr. Blair first entered Parliament in 1945 when he defeated the Liberal candidate of Lanark County, Bert Soper of Smiths Falls. Yesterday afternoon, hundreds of messages of sympathy were received by the family from friends and members of Parliament.
?b?Born in Bathurst Township?/b?
He was born in Bathurst Township near Fallbrook, 12 miles north of here in 1890, the son of the late Wm. Blair and Margaret Miller, both of Scottish descent. He received his education at the rural school at Fallbrook, Perth Collegiate, and attended Queen's University as a medical student.
He graduated from Queen's with the degree of MDCM and went overseas as a captain in the Army Medical Corps. He served in England and France with the 7th Field Ambulance and was medical officer with the Strathcona Horse regiment for some time.
On his return from overseas he took a post graduate course in New York and returned to Perth and established a practice.
Dr. Blair was past president and charter member of the Canadian Legion, BESL, and served in the militia as a lieutenant colonel. He served on the Perth Fair Board and was a member of the Perth Board of Education for 22 years. A member of the Masonic and Orange Lodges, he was also a member of the Perth Canadian Club.
He served on the Lanark County Conservative executive since 1920. He was keenly interested in the problems of soldiers. He was on the Soldiers' Aid Commission for Ontario.
For several years he was Medical Health Officer for Perth, Bathurst, Drummond and North Elmsley townships and the Lanark County Home.
Dr. Blair was a keen and active sportsman. He served on many hockey and baseball executives, and particularly in the years of the late 30's when the Perth Blue Wing Junior Hockey team were keeping the town of Perth to the forefront in the hockey world, did he take an active part in the progress of the club.
Fishing and hunting were two outdoor sports, which the Doctor took time out from his busy career, to enjoy.
?b?Prime Minister's Tribute?/b?
He married the former Grace Moore of Seeley's Bay, who in World War I spent three years in France as a nursing sister and holds the Royal Red Cross decoration.
Besides his wife he is survived by one son, Dr. Arthur Blair of Ottawa and one daughter, Mrs Erik Spicer (Helen) of Ottawa, and five grandchildren.
The late Dr. Blair was a member of St. Andrw's Presbyterian Church, Perth.
"I am deeply shocked by the sudden passing of my long time friend and wise counsellor to the Conservative Party", Conservative Leader John Diefenbaker said in Ottawa.
"It was only Saturday that I saw him and I expected to be in touch with him in a day or so, so that an opportunity for even greater public service could have been available to him.
"Obviously I could say no more at this time, he said when asked by a reporter to elaborate.
He said Dr. Blair's contribution to Parliament, "in particular in connection with social security and health matters" was in keeping with the higherst tragent members of Parliament.?b?
The Funeral?/b?
The death of Dr. W.G. Blair, who was buried in Elmwood Cemetery Wednesday afternoon, came as a great shock to everyone. The body lay in state in St. Andrew's Presbyterian church, Perth, founded in 1817.
Many dignitaries including the Prime Minister and Mr and Mrs George Drew came up from Ottawa to pay a last tribute to Dr. Blair. The Prime Minister looked very tired and returned to Ottawa immediately after the funeral.
Representing the Liberal Party were Mr. P. Burchell and Mr. Earl Darou, Perth.
Rev. R.B. Milroy and Rev. Dr. W.R. Alp conducted the funeral service, with Rev. Milroy opening the service with a prayer, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, then cast thy burden on the Lord and He shall sustain thee." This was followed by Psalm 109, "To the Hills," an old favourite of the late Dr. Blair, which refers to his Scottish heritage.
Rev. Dr. Alp gave a prayer, followed by Psalm 91, with scripture readings and prayers by Rev. Milroy.
In a few well-chosen words, Rev. Milroy said William Gourley Blair was a devoted father and husband and a well-beloved physician. He went on to give the following epitaph:
Who feels no thought within him rise,
At some beloved physician's name,
Which fills with brimming tears the eyes,
And wakens memory's warmest claim?
In tenderest hours of life and death,
That healing friend is by our side,
Perhaps the last to catch our breath
And whisper, "Jesus died."
Rev. Milroy concluded by saying that Dr. Blair was a courageous soldier under orders, a lover of men, young, mature and old, and a friend of children. All of those qualified him as a servant of the people, a legislator and a man his country could ill-afford to lose.
Following the address, the Hymn, "Abide With Me," was sung by the choir.
On leaving the church, a guard of honour was formed by the Ontario Provincial Police and the Perth Branch of the Canadian Legion.
The casket was carried shoulder high from the Church by the pallbearers - Staff Sgt. S. Erwin, Sgt. J. Smith, Corporals H. Caldwell, L Gartner, B. Mills, W. Webster, R. Young and W. Milton.
The honorary pall bearers were Mr. G White, MP; North Hastings County; Mr George Doucett, MPP, Lanark County; Mr H. Stanton, MP, Leeds County; Dr A. McCue, Smiths Falls; Mr. R. Echlin, Perth; Mr. A. Thornbury, Perth; Dr. A.C. Fowler, Perth; Mr. S. Hunter and Mr. A Bowes of Perth.
The funeral procession from the Church to Elmwood cemetery proceeded along Foster Street, onto Wilson and then out to Number 15 Highway to the cemetery.
Following the immediate family car were the Prime Minister, Hon. John Diefenbaker with Mr. and Mrs. George Drew.
The Perth Courier
Perth, Ontario, Canada
June 20, 1957, p1
FaG memorial -
William G. Blair was a politician and physician. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons in the 1945 election as a Member of the Progressive Conservative Party to represent the riding of Lanark. He was re-elected in 1949, 1953 and in 1957. He was appointed to the joint committees of Joint Committee on Federal District Commission and Joint Committee on Old Age Security. Prior to his federal political experience, he was a captain in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps between 1916 and 1919.
William married Emma "Grace" Moore, RN, RRC on 29 Sep 1920 in Seeley's Bay, Leeds County, Ontario, Canada. Emma (daughter of Hiram Moore and Lucy Alelia Church) was born about 1887 in Seeley's Bay, Leeds County, Ontario, Canada; died about 1960; was buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Perth, Lanark County, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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