Obituaries

When Carm became Chairperson of the Lakeland Retirement Village Residents Council, a fellow resident was amazed by his skills at running an effective meeting. His meetings started on time and ended on time. Following one meeting she sat beside him and said "You must have taken some leadership workshops." He gently put his hand on her arm and with a smile said: "I was the trainer." With friends and family still having agenda items, Carman Lorne Hamilton's life adjourned unexpectedly and peacefully on January 19th, 2025. In his 90th year, he leaves a bright legacy of leadership in rural Ontario. Multiple generations of leaders have been inspired, trained, and mentored by Carm. They have then gone on to do the same for others. Beloved son of the late Lorne and Audrey (nee Button) Hamilton, Carm was born on September 26th, 1935 and grew up on a farm near Millgrove with his siblings, the late Vivian Dunlop (the late Ralph) and the late Eleanor Newell (the late Jim). He was a proud graduate of the Ontario Agricultural College, Class of 1957. He was a Charter Member of the Ontario Institute of Agrologists since 1960. While at Guelph, he met a beautiful “MAC” girl who would become his life partner. Carm was the beloved husband of the late Patricia (nee Reynolds), and father of Richard (Sharon), Kathy, Elaine, Mark (Mikako) and Jill (Feng). He will be dearly missed by his grandchildren Lorne and Lindsay Hamilton, Amy Smith, and Ajax Jia, and his extended Hamilton and Reynolds families. He had a distinguished career with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. He was Supervisor of Youth Extension from 1966 until 1976, working closely with over 10,000 young people in 4-H and Junior Farmers. He then served as Agricultural Representative for Victoria and Haliburton Counties from 1976 until retirement in 1992. He was a Master Gardener and was a vendor at Lindsay Farmer's Market for 26 years. He was active in a number of community organizations, including Queen Street United Church, Community Care, and the Lindsay-Nayoro Twinning Committee. The family will forever be grateful for all the love and care he received from the staff at Lakeland Village, Extendicare Kawartha Lakes. A visitation was held on Friday, February 7th, from 2:00 until 4:00. A Celebration of Life Service was held at 12:00 Noon on Saturday February 8th. Both events were held at "Celebrations" (Former Queen Street United Church) 35 Lindsay St. North in Lindsay. Private interment at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ontario 4-H Foundation, the Canadian 4-H Foundation, or the Junior Farmer's Association of Ontario, Donations and condolences may be made at Mackey Funeral Home, 33 Peel Street, Lindsay, or online at www.mackeys.ca.