Ralph Edward Cheesman
adopted by the Cooper Family
Ralph was born in 1914 in Rosetown, Saskatchewan, Canada. Ralph, along with his sister Mary, was adopted in 1924 by Joseph and Martha Cooper. The Cooper's were acquaintances of Walter Davis, the widower for whom his mother Annie worked when the family first arrived in Canada. It was Mr. Davis that told the Coopers about the Cheesman children. The Cooper's were the connection to the Elder family who adopted Muriel through their neighbor Mary Mackenzie, sister of Jenn Elder. Miss Mackenzie contacted the Elders to tell them of Muriel. Miss Mackenzie married Edward Sheehey and they would continue to live next door to the Coopers. Mrs. Sheehey would serve as teacher to both Ralph and Mary. Although there was some contact between Ralph, Mary and Muriel, Ralph and Muriel were totally unaware that they were brother and sister. Muriel would have no idea she was even adopted until about 1939, at the age of 17.
In 1939 Ralph traveled west to spend some time with the family in McCord. In about 1940 he enlisted with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry-Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles of Canada. In 1943, during his service, he spent a leave in London. There he was able to spend a weekend with his brother Sidney and also was able to visit with Annie's sister, Aunt Dolly. For a short time in October of 1944 Ralph was reported to the family as missing in action. Annie had lost a brother in WW1 in 1918 and this must have been a difficult time for her as well as the rest of the family. In 1946 he was on hand to welcome Sidney home from the war.
Following the war, on the 16th of July 1949, Ralph married Marjorie Doreen Taylor. They settled in Uxbridge, Ontario. Ralph and Marjorie raised three children, Holly Anne born on the 5th of December 1957, Edward Joseph Cooper born on the 12th of March 1959 and Richard Charles born the 1st of December 1961. On the 21st of September 1982, Ralph died at the age of 67. His wife Marjory died the 12th of June 1989. They are buried in the Goodwood Cemetery. Just a few feet away is where his sister Mary was laid to rest in 1996.
In 1939 Ralph traveled west to spend some time with the family in McCord. In about 1940 he enlisted with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry-Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles of Canada. In 1943, during his service, he spent a leave in London. There he was able to spend a weekend with his brother Sidney and also was able to visit with Annie's sister, Aunt Dolly. For a short time in October of 1944 Ralph was reported to the family as missing in action. Annie had lost a brother in WW1 in 1918 and this must have been a difficult time for her as well as the rest of the family. In 1946 he was on hand to welcome Sidney home from the war.
Following the war, on the 16th of July 1949, Ralph married Marjorie Doreen Taylor. They settled in Uxbridge, Ontario. Ralph and Marjorie raised three children, Holly Anne born on the 5th of December 1957, Edward Joseph Cooper born on the 12th of March 1959 and Richard Charles born the 1st of December 1961. On the 21st of September 1982, Ralph died at the age of 67. His wife Marjory died the 12th of June 1989. They are buried in the Goodwood Cemetery. Just a few feet away is where his sister Mary was laid to rest in 1996.
|
1946 Welcome home reunion in
Ontario after the war with his siblings Mary, Sidney, Gwen holding Mary's daughter Carol, Ralph (absent are Archie and Muriel) |
Ralph is buried in the Goodwood Cemetery, Goodwood, Ontario
