Chris Harrison
Christine "Chris" Harrison (nee MacLeay) (early 1900s - 20 June 2000) was the first occupant of the house at 71 Hill Street South, Thunder Bay, Ontario. Since 1982 to at least 2019, this house has belonged to Ron Currie and his wife Mary Ann Currie. From 1982 to 2001, Michael Currie lived there.
Early life
Christine MacLeay was born in Stornaway, Scotland, likely between 1900 and 1910, since her husband was born in 1903 and she was likely similar in age to him.
She immediately moved to Thunder Bay as a baby and lived there her entire life until 1992.
Adult Life
Chris married Norman Harrison, likely in the 1930s or 1940s.
In the 1940s or 1950s she and her husband moved into a new home constructed in Mariday Park, Port Arthur: 71 South Hill Street.
In 1957, at the time of an electoral survey of the neighbourhood, 71 Hill Street South was listed as occupied by to Norman Harrison, "agri. representative", and wife "Christine". Their next-door neighbours were Robert Steele, including his young son, Doug Steele.
Norman Harrison died in 1976.
Chris was hosting a bridge game in early 1982 that was attended by Lucy Currie, where she revealed that she was thinking of selling her home. Lucy passed this information on to her son, and in June 1982, Christine, the widow Harrison, sold her home to Ron Currie and his wife Mary Ann Currie. [2]
From 1982 to 1992 she lived elsewhere in Thunder Bay, likely in a smaller, more manageable place.
From 1992 to her death in 2000, she lived in St. Catharines, Ontario.
Illness and Death
Chris possibly had Multiple Sclerosis since her obituary made an appeal for donations to the MS Society.
She died on 20 June 2000 "after a brief illness".
HARRISON Christine (MacLeay), died suddenly at Linhaven Home For The Aged in St. Catharines, ON, on June 20, 2000 after a brief illness.
Wife of the late Norman W. Harrison (1976) and loving mother of Barbara and her husband Frederick Legg of St. Catharines. Cherished grandmother of David and his wife Julie of Calgary, and Heather and her fiance John McLeod of Toronto. Sister-in-law of Norma MacLeay in Thunder Bay and aunt of Scott MacLeay and his wife Eliana in Paris, France. Predeceased by her brother A.R. MacLeay (Gus) in 1985 and her sister Margaret in 1991, both in Thunder Bay.
Christine was born in Stornoway, Scotland but lived all but the last 8 years in Thunder Bay where she taught school for several years.
Following cremation, a Memorial Service will be held on Friday, June 30th at 11:00 AM in the Sargent & Son Funeral Chapel, 21 North Court Street, with Rev. Lloyd Ivany officiating. Interment in Riverside Cemetery. As expressions of sympathy, donations to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, St. Catharines Branch, 12 Grote Street, St. Catharines, ON, L2N 2E7, would be appreciated.
— Unknown; likely published in the Chronicle-Journal in June 2000. Accessed on Legacy.com [1]
Sources
[1] Obituary on Legacy.com [2]
[2] Harrison, Norman Walter, age 73. Died 9 Jun 1976. Thunder Bay newspaper, 10 Jun 1976, p.35.