This Obituary appeared in The Recorder, Gore Bay, Ontario, June 24, 1926
The community of Gore Bay received a shock last week when news of the death of Mrs. W. H. Elliott (nee Viola Bickell) formerly of Gore Bay and of late years, Balcarres, Sask.
Miss Viola Bickell, when quite a young girl graduated as a Deaconess from the Presbyterian Deaconess Training school, Toronto, Ontario, going to Lemsford, Sask., to take charge of the Mission there and continued in this noble work until her marriage took place in January 1920 to W.H. Elliott a lumber merchant of that town.
Recovering from a long and serious illness she moved with her husband to Edgely, Sask., and later to Balcarres, where she resided until her demise on June 2nd of the present year.
Most people in Gore Bay will remember Viola Bickell, possessing, as she did, a most happy, amiable disposition, as has often be said of her, “A person of beauty and a joy forever, and her bright spirit won for her a host of friends, wherever she was known.
Those who survive, to deeply mourn her loss are her husband, an only daughter, Catherine, 5 years old, her mother, widow of the late David Bickell, formerly a merchant of Gore Bay, Miss Ethel and Gordon Bickell of Selwood, Ont.; Miss Zylpha, of Toronto, and Reynolds of Ilk Lake, Ont. Mrs. A.J. McDougall of Winnipeg, Arthur of Buffalo, N.Y.
The burial service was conducted by the Eastern Star Lodge of Balcarres.
Heart Thoughts Written by Miss Viola Bickell, Oct. 19, 1914
The dark mysterious night is softly falling
The day has gone-just where we cannot tell;
But we do know that there is yet tomorrow
And all is well.
We do not know yet, what the dawn may bring us
It may be gladness or it may be pain;
But this we know ’twill not be long in ending
And then sweet restful night will come again.
We do not know just why a tinge of sadness
Is mingled with the gloriousness of Fall;
But yet we know a kind and loving Father
Is watching o’er us and He knoweth all.
There is so much to learn, our hearts are sighing,
So much we think of, when ’tis peaceful night;
Still let us hope that in our promised Homeland
All things will be made right.
Then let us not forget the days are flying,
Soon we will be where it is night no more;
So may we live that we may then be worthy
Our rich reward prepared on that fair Share.