To really be remembered in human history, you must do extraordinary things: conquer the world, or save it.
Sadly, history misses the rich, vibrant stories of life all around us. The great tragedies of living and dying play out on a smaller scale, but no less important for those living them. All of us have a story. A life of joy and despair. To tell the story of St. Andrew’s Cemetery in Courtenay, B.C., I pulled a family name from a tombstone and discovered their tragedies.
John Fenton Taylor didn’t have roots in the Comox Valley until he married the daughter of farming pioneers, but it’s the place he chose for his final rest.
Fenton Taylor is buried with his wife, Sarah, and daughter, Mary Ann. Their graves are prominent, yet tucked away in at the edge of St. Andrew’s Church cemetery in Courtenay, B.C.
John and Sarah Ellen Lewis were married on New Year’s Day in 1902, with their daughter arriving about 18 months later. The family lived in Vancouver, where John was a successful furniture salesman.
Mary Ann Fenton Taylor was just seven years old when her mother died.
Sarah Ellen’s family in Courtenay owned land near the Courtenay Slough, an area where Puntledge, Courtenay and Tsolum rivers converge before draining into Comox Harbour. They were the first to bring Jersey cows to the area. Margaret, Sarah Ellen’s mother, was awarded for butter making during the 1893 inaugural agricultural fair in the community.
Although Sarah and John lived in Vancouver, after her death, Sarah returned to the Comox Valley.
Mary Ann attended school in Victoria at St. Ann’s Academy. She died at just 18 years old after a short illness. She was buried in the plot with her mother. John soon followed.
The Lewis family provided land to the City of Courtenay in 1928 to establish Lewis Park. It’s a vibrant social gathering spot, featuring Indigenous heritage prior to settlement by pioneers.
The parish at St. Andrew’s hosts an annual clean-up to ensure the graveyard is well tended, despite so many relatives leaving the area. The area and may not be as overgrown now, as my photos are from roughly 2002 when I lived in the area.
