WEBSTER, John Frederick 'Jack'

(Born April 10, 1916 – Died August 26, 2017) - Jack passed away peacefully at the Villa Care Centre in Midland on Saturday, August 26, 2017 at the age of 101. Jack is predeceased by his wife Muriel (2002) and his son David (2013). He will be sadly missed by his daughters, Ann Seman-O’Donal, Mary Byers (Barry), and daughter-in-law Sharon Webster, his grandchildren Brian Gilmore (Nancy), Jeff Seman, John Webster (Leanne), Kelly Hammond (Ed), Brenda Murphy (Scott) and Todd Byers (Franca), as well as his great-grandchildren Kaitlin, Lauren, Ella, Luke, Jorja, Island, Nathan and Joey. He will be lovingly remembered by many nieces, nephews and friends. Visitation will be held at the Steckley-Gooderham Funeral Home, 30 Worsley St., Barrie, on Friday, September 1, 2017 from 11 am until the time we celebrate his life in the Chapel at 12 pm. Following the service, guests are invited to remain for a reception luncheon in the Lounge. The family would like to extend their special thanks to the wonderful staff at the Villa Care Centre in Midland for their kindness and excellent care. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jack’s memory may be made to a charity of choice.

John Jack Frederick Webster

Jack was born April 10, 1916 in Toronto during World War I. His parents, Fred and Alice, owned and operated a Bake Shop in Toronto. He had one brother (Ted) and 2 sisters (Ella and Doris).
When Jack was a young boy, his parents sold the Bake Shop and bought a farm on the 5th Line of Innisfil. He went to school in Thornton and that is where he met his wife-to-be- Muriel Kelly.
Jack and Muriel were married in Thornton on June 1, 1938.
They had 3 children- Ann, David and Mary. (all born during World War II).
Jack worked on his farm on the 5th Line of Innisfil from 1938 to 1941. He then moved to Toronto with his family, to work for DeHavilland Aircraft. he installed engines in Fighter Planes furing the Second World War. At the end of the war, he moved to Innisfil Township and built a resort- called Cotsworld Lodge. It was located at the corner of 8th Line and the 25th Sideroad in Innisfil. Together, with his wife Muriel and his parents and children, they operated a successful Lodge and Marina from 1945 to 1965. He named the Lodge- Cotsworld Lodge- after the area in England where his mother was born. The Lodge had rooms, cabins, and a full dining room for meals. He also built a Convenience Store with gas pumps and a full service for Outboard Motors and Small Engine Repair- at the back of the property.
In addition to Cotsworld Lodge, Jack had a separate shop on the 8th Line of Innisfil in which he did Television Sales and Service. In the mid-sixties, he also sold Lowrey Organs, and his wife, Muriel, demonstrated the organs. They did many shows at Exhibitions and fairs around the area.
He built a beauty salon for Suzettes Hair Salon in the earl 1960's and Suzie is still operating a successful business in the Alcona Beach area.
Jack and Muriel also had a dance band. They entertained all over Simcoe County. Jack played the "C" melody saxophone and banjo and Muriel played the piano or organ. They hired a drummed and trumpet player.
In 1965, Jack bought and operated Go Home Lake Marina with his son, David, and family. They had a very successful business. He built a beautiful home on the property. They sold the Marina in 1976 but kept the home. Because, Jack and Muriel were in the Marina Business, they were able to spend their winter's in Florida. They had a winter home in New Port, Richey, Florida and spent 30 years wintering in the sunshine.
Jack also worked for the Department of Indian Affairs as a supervisor to the Native Indians in order to build a Marina at Twelve Mile Bay.
During thr 1980's, Jack and Muriel built a beautiful home in Bracebridge and sold their home on Go Home Lake. Jack lived there until retirement in 2007, after which he moved into a Retirement Home, called "The Villa" in Bracebridge. In 2013, Jack's legs would not hold him up and needed extra care and therefore moved into the Nursing Home called "The Villa Care Centre" in Midland.
Jack has 6 grandchildren: Briand, Jeff, John, Kelly, Brenda & Todd. He has 7 great grandchildren: Kaitlin, Lauren, Ella, Luke, Jorja, Island, and Joey.
He has a daughter-in-law, Sharon (David's wife), and a son-in-law, Barry (Mary's husband).
The spouses of his grandchildren are Scott Murphy (Brenda), Franca Byers (Todd), Ed Hammond (Kelly), Leanne Webster (John), Nancy Gilmore (Brian).
Accomplishments and Awards
Jack was a very successful business man.
He enjoyed played for dances with his dance band.
He was very inventive- built three wheel trikes, scooters, snow mobiles and boats.
He carved many beautiful ducks and birds from wood, and his wife, Muriel, would paint them.
He made wall clocks from special wood. He collected parts (old and new) to make some of his inventions.
Jack and Muriel rode their motorcycles from coast to coast in Canada and belonged to a Motorcycle Club in Florida- called the "Retreads".
Jack owned and flew his own airplane. he had three small airplanes during his flying career. His wife also knew how to land the plane in an emergency. Jack and Muriel were a great team. They worked together on a farm in their early years and in all their business endeavours.
Jack is a life-time member of the Masonic Lodge in both Innisfil and Bracebridge and also a member of the Scottish Rite chapter.
Jack was a member of the Simcoe County School Board during the 1950's and 1960's. He also volunteered as a fire fighter in Innisfil. He belonged to the Rotary Club in Barrie when he lived in Innisfil.
He belonged to and worked for the Bracebridge Pineer Club and did many demonstrations of wood carvings of birds and ducks and taught wood classes in Florida during the winter.
Jack volunteered for 13 year at the Bracebridge Hospital.
The Town of Innisfil honoured Jack by naming a street after him. It is called "Webster Blvd", which runs from the 7th Line of Innisfil through the 9th Line of Innisfil in the Alcona Beach Area. In addition, "Muriel Ave" is named after his wife, Muriel, and "Booth Ave" is named after his sister, Doris Booth (same subdivision).
Jack received the Ontario Senior Achievement Award from the Town of Bracebridge in 2007 for his contributions to the community and he was also presented with the Senior Provincial Achievement Award at Queens Park in Toronto in 2008.
In September 2015, the Villa Care Centre in Midland honoured him with the "Make A Difference Award" and they gave him and iron park bench in his honour to be set up in the gardens at the Nursing Home.