REID, Mabel

Apr 17, 2013

She came in on a storm May 3rd 1908, and as she desired, left during one early last Friday, April 12, 2013. She was the last survivor of twelve born to Tom & Ellen McEwen of Bob’s Lake Rd. just north of Tichborne. First farm on the left on the now re-named Bradshaw Rd.; “two blades of grass for every rock" as my father described it. Mabel and her siblings attended the Bradshaw School (her older sister Elsie was in the first grade when the school opened). Education clearly played an important role in family life; however only a few would be granted the privilege of attending Sydenham High School. This involved weekly train trips on the K&P to a rooming house, where she and two brothers were still responsible for feeding themselves. When she would say “Kids today don’t know what hardship is”; you had to take her at her word. I believe teachers are born teachers, and Mabel was no exception. To attend “Normal School” she had to write entrance exams held over a weekend in Burridge. She told me her father took her in the wagon from Tichborne, which is about a four-hour trip. This began a teaching career with numerous one-room school houses, starting at $50/month for ten months. Eventually she taught at Robert Meek in Kingston where she met and married Art Reid from Reidville. They set up a farm in Kingston Mills (recently known as O’Brian’s, across the road from my parent’s place), until Art fell off the barn roof and they decided to take life a little easier. Mabel retired from teaching before I was born, and for a brief moment she was the oldest recipient of a graduated pension, which she collected at her own house until last December when she finally ceded that maybe it was time for the “home”. Many thanks to: the Providence Manor, and prior to that the Smile Program and her pre-deceased friend/house·keeper/saint Mary Young. There were no children, but there were hundreds of children — my wife and I included. I will certainly miss our evening calls, when she could recall memories from the First World War as well as comment on any current government’s short-comings (she didn’t think you should have to pay any taxes after 100). My wife, Christiane (also a Kingston teacher), would occasionally stay over with her when the weather was bad. They shared many stories, a few of which remain secret to the two. Mabel could accurately explain to me any blood or marriage relationship I had with practically any other person in Frontenac County, and she could do that to the very end, which was peaceful and well deserved. Services will be held at James Reid Funeral Home, Saturday April 20th at 11:00 in the Chapel.