Memorable Manitobans: Ralph Ernest Mayes (1891-1969)

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Ralph Ernest Mayes
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Educator.

Born at Bracebridge, Ontario on 24 February 1891, eldest child of Herbert Mayes (c1864-1912) and Maria Fennell (1868-1941), he and his family came to a Manitoba farm around 1898. He attended Pierson School and later the Portage la Prairie Normal School and Central Normal School. He taught at North Antler School (1914-1915) then attended Brandon College. In 1916, while still a college student, he enlisted in the Canadian Army Medical Corps and served in France during the First World War.

Returning from overseas, he returned to North Antler School (1919-1920) then served as the Principal of Lyleton School (1920-1925, 1940-1944), Lennox School (c1927), Medora School (?-?), Hargrave School (1937-1939), Oakner School (1944-1947), Stockton School (1947-1950), Eden School (1950-1952), Hazelridge School (1952-1954), Graysville School (1954-1956), and Ninga School (1956-1957).

On 30 June 1924, he married Jean Muriel Lyle (1903-1992) at Lyleton. They had four children, all of whom became teachers: Carlyle Mayes, Hubert Graham Mayes, Ardyce Mayes (wife of William Koroluk), and Marian Mayes (wife of Martin Balint). Following retirement in 1958, he resided at Lyleton, Edmonton (Alberta), and Yorkton (Saskatchewan).

He died at Yorkton, Saskatchewan on 14 June 1969 and was buried in the Yorkton Cemetery.

Sources:

1901 Canada census, Automated Genealogy.

Death registrations [Herbert Mayes, Maria Mayes], Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Attestation papers, Canadian Expeditionary Force, Library and Archives Canada.

Annual Reports of the Manitoba Department of Education, Manitoba Legislative Library.

Marriage registration, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 23 June 1969, page 33.

Deloraine Scans a Century 1880-1980: A History of Deloraine and District, page 35.

Harvests of Time: History of the R.M. of Edward by Edward History Book Committee, 1983, page 168.

Obituary [Jean Mayes], Winnipeg Free Press, 10 October 1992, page 86.

Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.

We thank Garth Balint, Brian Mayes, and Alison Marshall for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 17 March 2024

Memorable Manitobans

Memorable Manitobans

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