Obituary for Clifford Bush

Life Story for Clifford Bush

The Life of William Clifford Bush


Our father, William Clifford Bush, was born to John Christian Bush and Alice May Bush, February 7th, 1920, in the City of Toronto.

He was described by his mother as ‘the impetuous rascal of the family with a curious adventurous nature’.

As a young boy he had to share his home and parents, along with his brother Jimmy Bush, many other babies or youngsters that his mother so graciously took in from time to time.

Dad met our mother on the shores of Lake Simcoe in 1933 although Mom maintains it was 1936 but this is Dad’s story so 1933 sticks! He once told us he rode his bicycle all the way from Castlefield Ave in Toronto to Jackson’s point to see Mom. That would have been quite a journey back in the day!

Dad had a variety of jobs in his teen years including: paper route, delivering groceries, teaching swimming, all to help put food on the table back in the depression days.

In 1939 the Second World War broke out and Dad, like so many others, was quick to enlist in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He remained in England for the duration of the war with countless stories of sadness and heroism of his fellow comrades.

Dad returned to Canada at the end of the war and two weeks later married our Mother on September 29, 1945.

Dad was able to return to a job at Mclean Hunter in the publishing department as many jobs where held by the large companies in Toronto while their employees enlisted in the military to help the war effort.

Between 1947 and 1956 Mom and Dad had four children Lynn, John, Barb and David.

As the years went by Dad had progressive career growth with Carnation Milk, Formfit Foundations and Freemes Jewellers. He then became an independent salesman representing several lines of products and dealt with the buyers at large stores like Eaton’s, Simpson, and Peoples Jewellers. Some of the products included Skyway luggage and fine jewellery.

This career choice kept Dad on the road in Southern Ontario often for two weeks at a time. But, he never lacked time for his family and friends. Whenever he was home the family came first, and we did a lot of outdoor activities together including: downhill and Xcountry skiing, cottaging / boating, trips to different towns and special events in Southern Ontario, probably due to being ‘that impetuous rascal with a curious adventurous nature!’

His traveling career also allowed him to pick a nice town or community in which to raise his family. So, he and Mom started off in Toronto and then moved to the beautiful little town of St. Marys, one of our favourites, and then onto Thornhill, which gave the children many more opportunities, then in retirement a lovely home on Lake Couchiching in Orillia where everyone loved to visit.

In St. Marys, Dad became a member of the Anglican Church Board, Public School Board, and countless other community activities.

In the winter months Dad would take us out in the country on snow covered roads and pull a toboggan behind the car. Each of the children took turns riding the toboggan. We are not sure to this day if perhaps he was hoping to lose one or two of us when we misbehaved!

A large part of our childhood in the summer months in the 60’s and 70’s was spent on the Severn River near Washago. Dad had grown up with cottage life with his parents at Jackson’s Point on Lake Simcoe but Mom wanted quieter waters to raise the children. So, Dad rented cottages at first but eventually bought a lot on the north side of the river and built a cottage in 1962. They named it ‘Bush Acres’. He and Mom immediately got involved with all the neighbours there, and the children are still friends with some of them to this day.

He and Mom created lots of fond memories for their children including: big bonfires down by the water with lots of sing-along parties and corn roasts in the evenings, many canoe trips with family and friends, waterskiing, surf boarding, swimming, and of course the infamous boat trip down the Trent Severn Waterway to Peterborough and back with several neighbours and friends in their boats.

In 1980 Mom and Dad decided to sell this cottage to their son John and purchase the larger cottage on the south side of the river that one could drive to. They named it ‘Bush Heights’.

After a few years at this location, and many many good times, they decided to sell that cottage in 1980 and bought a house on the west side of Couchiching Point in the City of Orillia overlooking the lake. Once again they immediately got involved in the community and made many friends in all sorts of local activities including boat trips, trips to Algonquin Park in the fall, the Anglican Church, and the list goes on.

Being the adventurous one, Dad and Mom drove to Florida every winter for many years in the 80’s and 90’sto places like St. Petersburg, and then later to Panama City Beach. While there, or on the way there, they would explore many different areas not to mention the beaches.

Dad, as a husband, father to four children, grandfather to 9 grandchildren, and great grandfather to 4 great grandchildren, was always kind and generous to everyone. They all have fond memories of playing sports, boating, skiing, learning to play the organ, or just sitting on his knee reading a book.

One of Dad’s favourite things to do was to teach the grandchildren how to drive a car before they were legally old enough to do so. Some enjoyed the experience, some were nervous, all of the parents were nervous, but there were no mishaps so just fond memories!

To sum up Dad’s character, he loved people, he loved boating, he loved horses, he love dogs and he loved organ music. We are not sure in what order these should be listed…..perhaps it depended on the day!

For the man that he was and for all the lives he touched and enriched, he will be remembered fondly for many generations to come. May He Rest in Peace.