Obituary

It is with sadness that we share that the Life of Charlie Millage has closed at his home in Fergus, ON. He was predeceased by his sisters Marguerite, March 30th-Covid19 and Grace, April 20th, 2020. Illness took the lives of his wife Joan (Brien) 1964 and the late Isabel (Richardson) 2004. Remembered by numerous nieces, nephews and their families who have shared happy times with Uncle Charlie. Diann’s sons Kevyn (Ala) and Andrew (Sandi) Shellington and their families. Charlie’s adopted daughter Erika Simon and her family of Oakville. His life time – his father passing when he was eight, learning at an early age what it meant to earn pocket money; completing his high school classes where he liked to say I got my ‘ed a cation’ in Bobcaygeon. November 1941 in Dunsford, ON at sixteen joining a family farm learning the skills of farm life, driving animals to market, delivering mail in the area. Introduced to the game of Curling – loved the challenge, a lifetime of pleasure. Mid-twenties managing Fee Motors a fuel/lubrication station in Lindsay; being asked by a representative of BA Oil if he would drive the first tanker truck filled with fuel from Toronto to Lindsay – this experiment was successful. Visiting in DC, having a friend working at Washington DC ‘Good Music station’ he was asked to come to the station “I am interviewing a special person” Charlie was to meet, talk and shake hands with Nat King Cole. Salesman for Dairy and Bread companies, establishing Millage Radio & TV, being a member of a group at Lindsay Specialty Products who developed the Lindsay Utica short wave radio. Learning the General and Life Insurance business at Mason & Whyte Insurance Agency in Lindsay. Following their marriage Charlie and Isabel returned to Fergus and built a home on their farm on Beatty Line. “Millage Lane”. Charlie became Manager of Associated Mixed Feeds and Rancher Supply in Fergus. Food and supplies for the Mink industry. In the 1980’s Charlie was asked to be a member of two Canadian Trade Missions that took them to Europe, visiting many cities, sharing their knowledge of the successful breeding of Mink. Charlie and Isabel enjoyed sailing the Great Lakes; locked through with a freighter in the Welland Canal. Later travelling by motor home across Canada and the United States. An ‘around the world’ trip in 1988; visiting many countries, among the scenes walking on the Great Wall of China June 30th. Now in retirement they continued to travel and spend the Winter months at Mt. Olive Shores Motor Home Park, Polk City, Florida. During his years in Fergus, Charlie continued to volunteer, especially at Melville United Church, serving on various committees. He coordinated the move of an organ, no longer needed, from a church in Evansville, Indiana. Dusty pipes and the keyboards were loaded on a truck and returned to Ontario. Now cleaned, were integrated with the existing organ pipes at Melville. This expanded the range and quality of music enjoyed in the church today. Also serving on committees, Diann Shellington was the church treasurer. Over the years Charlie, Isabel, Diann and husband Ward enjoyed a social friendship. During 2003/04 their special spouses passed; as life would have it Charlie & Diann became closer and married in 2005. Diann has memories of their travels to Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, Caribbean cruises, motor home travels that took them from coast to coast in Canada and parts of the United States. Winter holidays were enjoyed in Florida, happy times shared with friends at Mt. Olive Shores at Polk City, Florida. The Beatty Line home and property had been sold and Charlie and Diann moved to their home overlooking the Grand River in Fergus. Their deck overlooks the river and recollections abound of time spent enjoying the seasons as they unfolded and changed their view. As per Charlie’s request, a private family interment will take place in Fergus, ON. The Community of Centre Wellington has been his home area since the 1960’s and supporting the projects within its borders has been important to him. The Guelph Humane Society is planning to move to their expanded facilities on Clair Road in Guelph in March 2021. Expressions of support to the Guelph Humane Society would be appreciated by Charlie’s family. Charlie would say “if I haven’t made someone laugh or smile today I haven’t done my job.”