Mary Isabel Furminger (née Wright) (Apr 12, 1907 — Jan 5, 2013)

Mary loved Kahshe Lake. She and her husband, Clare, bought their first lot on Grant’s Bay back in the early 30s from Mary’s uncle, Charley Wright, and later switched it for the lot at the mouth of Grant’s Bay where they built a cottage in the early 40’s. They loved to sail and we used to joke that Mum would only go out in the sailboat when there was a “Mary Breeze.”  Many folks still remember the “Queen Mary” chugging down the bay with all five grandchildren aboard. Mary first came to Kahshe with her mother, Mary, and brother, Jack, in 1921, but her family had a much older connection with the Muskoka area: Mary’s grandfather, Charles Wright, a doctor, and pharmacist, came from England with his wife and several children, and lived on Mary Lake for several years before moving to Collingwood in the 1870’s. 

Mum would regale us with stories of how they would go boating in Miss Wynn’s dippy and go to the dances at Sopher’s and Kluey’s Bay with Hilda Wright and Bill Mylks. Mary grew up in Saint Catherine’s and worked for London Life as a bookkeeper. Mary and Clare had two daughters, Marilyn (Lyn) and Janice, and we both built cottages adjacent to our parents, thus forming a family compound. 

Until last summer, 31 family members continued to enjoy the lake: Mary, Paul, and Janice Mooney with their children, Blake and wife, Irene, and Andrea and partner, David, and their offspring; myself (Lyn) and husband, Larry Collis, and our three children, Doug, Gregg, and Julie, each with his/her partner and children, and sometimes, grandchildren. Sadly Mary is no longer with us, nor is my husband, Larry. Clare died in 1987 but Mary continued to come to the cottage until 2004. She was a weaver and a member of the Toronto Handweavers Guild, and we all have samples of her work hanging in the cottages. Mary was a very resilient lady and still had good hearing and a keen mind until the end. She will certainly be missed by all the family.