Gerald "Jerry" Ratchford, 96, passed away on October 26 at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital after a brief illness. Born in Sydney, he was the son of the late George and Mae (Johnston) Ratchford. He was a member of the Holy Rosary Parish, Westmount.
He grew up in the north end of Sydney and until the end could remember in great detail all the people who lived in the neighborhood. He fondly remembered the old days of Sydney, of shopping on Charlotte Street with his grandmother who paid for a purchase with a gold nugget, of working under the blast furnace for 59 cents an hour, of building his home on Harbourview Drive for $12,000.
By profession he was an accountant, but his keenest interests were fishing, camping and anything that took him outdoors, as well as country music and a good game of cards.
He lived and worked in Sydney, Grimsby, ON and Edmonton, AB before returning home to retire in Sydney.
Jerry was predeceased by his first wife Mary (Sis), second wife Edna, brother Earl, sisters June MacIntyre and Dorothy Ratchford. He is missed and lovingly remembered by stepdaughter Betty (Dave) White, Stillwater Lake, NS, niece Marilyn Hart, Edmonton, AB and good friends Pat and Betty Ann Ricks, Ponte Vedra, FL.
The funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, November 4th at 11:00 am at Holy Rosary Church in Westmount with Fr. Doug Murphy officiating. Inurnment will take place in Resurrection Cemetery. Memories and condolences can be shared with the family by visiting www.twcurry.com.
Donations may be made to Holy Rosary Parish or any charity of your choice.
