Obituary for Earl Brears
Earl Joseph Brears of Walkerton, went to be with his Lord and Saviour, on Friday, February 19, 2021, at Hanover & District Hospital, at the age of 83.
Loved by his children Paul (Janice) Brears of Hanover, and Carman Brears, and Sean Brears, both of R.R.2, Walkerton.
Earl will be fondly remembered by his siblings Betty Fischer of Kitchener, Joan and Gerry Stockie of Waterloo, Jean Bignell, of Kitchener, and Morley Brears of Alberta.
Predeceased by his beloved wife Elizabeth ‘Beth’ (Ritchie) Brears after 53 years of marriage, brothers William ‘Bill’ Brears, Gordon Brears, and Arthur ‘Art’ Brears, sister Irene Kaufman, and his parents Balfour and Emily (Sothern) Brears.
Earl was devoted to his family, friends, and his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He was born on the home farm at Lot 31, Conc. 3, Newbridge (Howick Township, Huron County) on March 15, 1937. Earl was the sixth of nine children. His parents had just purchased and moved to the farm when he was born.
At the early age of 5, Earl was driving a team of horses and using a hay loader to help his Dad during the haying season. By the age of seven, Earl was milking 2 cows by hand, each morning before school and each evening. At the age of 18, Earl started his teaching career at SS #10 Tuchersmith Township, near Hensall, Ontario, in a one-room, rural schoolhouse. He taught grades 1 through 8 from September 1955 until June 1957. A year was spent at Stratford Teachers’ College, and then he found a teaching job at Acton in 1958.
While teaching in Acton, Earl met the love of his life, Elizabeth Ann Ritchie, and they were married in 1961. While teaching in Acton for 13 years, Earl and Beth welcomed three baby boys; Paul Wesley, Carman Fraser, and Sean Andrew.
Earl was the first member of the Brears family to obtain a B.A. degree from McMaster University, Hamilton, in 1968. He took evening courses while teaching and during the summer months to accomplish this goal. In 1971, Earl accepted the position of Vice Principal at Walkerton Public School and continued to teach there for 12 years.
In the spring of 1974, Earl bought a 100-acre farm at Lot 44 & 45, Concession 3, Brant Township. He continued to teach, and also to farm. In 1983, Earl was transferred to Vice Principal at the country school beside the Board Office in Chesley, and continued to teach there for another 11 years. Nine of those years were spent as Vice Principal, and the last 3 years were in the classroom.
Earl retired after 40 years of teaching in 1995. He taught all of the grades from 1 through 12 during his career in the primary and secondary school system. During his career, he accumulated 3 years of unused sick days, which is a remarkable feat.
Once retired, Earl was able to concentrate all of his time and energy on farming. A purebred Limousin herd was established in 1981 with the name, “Queen’s Bush Limousin”. The bulls were performance tested in stations across Ontario, including Harriston, Mount Forest, Arkell, Parkhill, and London. Many of these bulls tested within the top of their group with average daily gains of 4.5 to 5 lbs. per day. Earl never had a bull test under 4 lbs./day.
One year, a bull was put on test in Calgary, Alberta, in the National Limousin Test. Out of 140 bulls from herds across Canada, Earl’s bull finished in the top 10. He was able to say he raised a bull with that weight at 18 months, 2100 lbs., and placed third at the Royal Winter Fair.
Earl was farming right up to the final two weeks of his life, and after two major heart attacks left him weak and fragile. Earl is finally at peace with his Saviour, and with the loved ones that have gone onto Heaven before him. Earl is free of pain and suffering.
The family would like to thank the staff, nurses, and doctors at Hanover Hospital for the excellent care Earl received.
Private family services will be held at the Hardy-Lee Funeral Home, Harriston, on Sunday, February 21st. Interment and further services will be held at Fordwich Cemetery in the spring.
Memorial donations to Canadian Bible Society, or the Hanover & District Hospital Foundation would be gratefully appreciated.
Online condolences may be left at www.hardyleefuneralhome.com
‘Blessed are those who died in the Lord’ Revelation 14:13
Loved by his children Paul (Janice) Brears of Hanover, and Carman Brears, and Sean Brears, both of R.R.2, Walkerton.
Earl will be fondly remembered by his siblings Betty Fischer of Kitchener, Joan and Gerry Stockie of Waterloo, Jean Bignell, of Kitchener, and Morley Brears of Alberta.
Predeceased by his beloved wife Elizabeth ‘Beth’ (Ritchie) Brears after 53 years of marriage, brothers William ‘Bill’ Brears, Gordon Brears, and Arthur ‘Art’ Brears, sister Irene Kaufman, and his parents Balfour and Emily (Sothern) Brears.
Earl was devoted to his family, friends, and his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He was born on the home farm at Lot 31, Conc. 3, Newbridge (Howick Township, Huron County) on March 15, 1937. Earl was the sixth of nine children. His parents had just purchased and moved to the farm when he was born.
At the early age of 5, Earl was driving a team of horses and using a hay loader to help his Dad during the haying season. By the age of seven, Earl was milking 2 cows by hand, each morning before school and each evening. At the age of 18, Earl started his teaching career at SS #10 Tuchersmith Township, near Hensall, Ontario, in a one-room, rural schoolhouse. He taught grades 1 through 8 from September 1955 until June 1957. A year was spent at Stratford Teachers’ College, and then he found a teaching job at Acton in 1958.
While teaching in Acton, Earl met the love of his life, Elizabeth Ann Ritchie, and they were married in 1961. While teaching in Acton for 13 years, Earl and Beth welcomed three baby boys; Paul Wesley, Carman Fraser, and Sean Andrew.
Earl was the first member of the Brears family to obtain a B.A. degree from McMaster University, Hamilton, in 1968. He took evening courses while teaching and during the summer months to accomplish this goal. In 1971, Earl accepted the position of Vice Principal at Walkerton Public School and continued to teach there for 12 years.
In the spring of 1974, Earl bought a 100-acre farm at Lot 44 & 45, Concession 3, Brant Township. He continued to teach, and also to farm. In 1983, Earl was transferred to Vice Principal at the country school beside the Board Office in Chesley, and continued to teach there for another 11 years. Nine of those years were spent as Vice Principal, and the last 3 years were in the classroom.
Earl retired after 40 years of teaching in 1995. He taught all of the grades from 1 through 12 during his career in the primary and secondary school system. During his career, he accumulated 3 years of unused sick days, which is a remarkable feat.
Once retired, Earl was able to concentrate all of his time and energy on farming. A purebred Limousin herd was established in 1981 with the name, “Queen’s Bush Limousin”. The bulls were performance tested in stations across Ontario, including Harriston, Mount Forest, Arkell, Parkhill, and London. Many of these bulls tested within the top of their group with average daily gains of 4.5 to 5 lbs. per day. Earl never had a bull test under 4 lbs./day.
One year, a bull was put on test in Calgary, Alberta, in the National Limousin Test. Out of 140 bulls from herds across Canada, Earl’s bull finished in the top 10. He was able to say he raised a bull with that weight at 18 months, 2100 lbs., and placed third at the Royal Winter Fair.
Earl was farming right up to the final two weeks of his life, and after two major heart attacks left him weak and fragile. Earl is finally at peace with his Saviour, and with the loved ones that have gone onto Heaven before him. Earl is free of pain and suffering.
The family would like to thank the staff, nurses, and doctors at Hanover Hospital for the excellent care Earl received.
Private family services will be held at the Hardy-Lee Funeral Home, Harriston, on Sunday, February 21st. Interment and further services will be held at Fordwich Cemetery in the spring.
Memorial donations to Canadian Bible Society, or the Hanover & District Hospital Foundation would be gratefully appreciated.
Online condolences may be left at www.hardyleefuneralhome.com
‘Blessed are those who died in the Lord’ Revelation 14:13