Obituary of John Arthur Byerlay

We are sad to announce that on September 4. 2020 we had to say goodbye to John Arthur Byerlay. He passed away suddenly at his home in Henwood Township, Kenabeek, Ontario. John was cherished by many people including his loving wife Jean (Nichol), his children; Susan (Michael) Poirier, Linda Byerlay, Robert Byerlay and Dorothy Byerlay, his grandchildren; Melissa Byerlay, Christopher Goodwin, William Goodwin, Phillip Goodwin and Andrew Goodwin, his sisters; Isla Howard, Norma (Doug) Edwards and his sisters in law Beatrice Byerlay Hartzke, Iva King and foster sister Helen Ames, his in laws; Fred (Velma) Nichol, Mary (Percy) Beneke, Bill (Debbie) Nichol, Raymond (Janice) Nichol, Rolande Nichol Daviau as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his mother Florence Aitchison (1972), his father John Andrew (1980), his brother Roy Alexander (2015), his brother in law Bertrand Howard (1994) and his brothers in law Lawrence (Joyce) Nichol, James (Jean) Nichol and sister in law Grace (Joseph) Welsh and his 3 nephews. John was born in Matachewan , Ontario on May 13, 1941 to John and Florence Byerlay. He attended school in Matachewan, Cane Public School and New Liskeard High School. His family moved to a farm in Kenabeek in the late 1950s. He married Jean Nichol on July 17, 1965. John worked as a Hoist man in the mines in Gowganda, Ontario, as a Millwright at Rexwood, Elk Lake Sawmill and Grant Forest Products. He retired in 1984 due to health issues although he continued to pursue farming with the family. John was an active member in the community: the Kenabeek Pioneer Club, Henwood Local Road Board and Kenabeek Community Society. He served several years on the Kenabeek Fire Department. He assisted Jean with the Henwood Rosegrove Cemetery and many other projects. If desired, donations in memory of John may be mailed directly to the Kenabeek Community Society (5 Conc. Henwood Twp, Kenabeek, ON, P0J 1M0) and will be gratefully acknowledged. IN KEEPING WITH THE COVID-19 PROVINCIAL REGULATIONS, A TOTAL NUMBER OF 5 PEOPLE WILL BE PERMITTED IN THE FUNERAL HOME AT THE SAME TIME FOR A 15-MINUTE PERIOD. FUNERAL HOME STAFF MUST RECORD YOUR NAMES AND TIME- THEREFORE PLEASE CALL THE FUNERAL HOME (705-647-5020) TO RESERVE YOUR ALLOTTED TIME. WE WILL INFORM YOU AS TO THE NEW VISITATION PROCEDURE.