In Memory of our Lions in District A9 who have served
2023 Lions
BETTY JEAN “BJ” FINLAY
BJ was born and raised in Kincardine Township. She graduated from Bervie Public School (a one-room schoolhouse, where all eight grades were taught by her mother!), Kincardine District High School, and Stratford Teachers College. BJ taught in Hamilton, ON for three years.
BJ married Ron at the Bervie United Church in July 1958. They settled first in Erin, ON, where they worked together in his first veterinary practice. After a brief stint in Ancaster ON, the family moved to Orangeville, ON where they lived for many years. BJ and Ron moved to Winnipeg, MB for Ron’s work with the federal government’s Animal Diseases Research Institute, and BJ started her own business – BJ’s Mop Squad. Their final federal government career move was to the ADRI facility in Lethbridge,AB. Upon retirement, BJ and Ron built a home on Bruce Beach, near Kincardine, where they enjoyed the beautiful sunsets and enchantment of Lake Huron. After 20 years, they moved to Meneset, an adult community near Goderich, ON, and then recently to an assisted living facility in Guelph.
A big part of BJ’s life included her involvement in Lions Clubs, whose motto is “We Serve”. Between BJ and Ron, they have served through Lions for over 100 years. BJ was a District Governor for her Lions district, and was chosen by her fellow Governors as Council Chair of the Lions Multiple District A (Ontario). BJ was proud, as District Governor, to have been instrumental in having one of her clubs awarded “Best Club in the World” for the club’s accomplishments in “Building a Better Tomorrow”. Just days before her passing, BJ was awarded with the rare Lion’s Clubs International President’s Award for her many years of service and accomplishments.
BJ’s service wasn’t limited to Lions. She was also a volunteer driver for the Canadian Cancer Society, providing transportation for local cancer patients to distant hospitals for appointments and treatment.
Betty Jean was a people person, striving to bring joy into the lives of those she met. She sent personally designed and professionally printed Christmas cards to everyone in her address book, starting in 1962 right up to last year. She enjoyed meeting and becoming close friends with Lions from all over the world. During COVID, she made over 300 phone calls to the people in her address book (some of whom she hadn’t talked to in years) to brighten their days and bring a smile to their faces.
Betty Jean’s strong faith in God gave her a desire to serve, the strength to fight many medical challenges over her final years, and the peace of mind to accept the end when it came.
Lion Bill Logue | Blyth Lions |
Lion Jean Davidson | Brussels Lions |
Lion Bob Raymond | Brussels Lions |
Lion Bill Walter | Chepstow & District Lions |
Lion Jonathon Zettel | Chepstow & District Lions |
Lion Barb Hoffele | Clifford & District Lions |
Lion Jim Rich Formosa & District Lions | Formosa & District Lions |
Lion Bill Black | Goderich Lions |
Lion Ron Hamilton | Goderich Lions |
Lion Ralph Smith | Goderich Lions |
PCC Betty Jean "B.J." Finlay | Goderich Lions |
Lion Jim Stitt | Kemble & District Lions |
Lion Stewart Beausolei | Kincardine & District Lions |
Lion Ron English | Mount Forest Lions |
Lion Jim Harrington | Orangeville Lions |
Lion George Barnes | Owen Sound Scenic City Lions |
Lion Brian Smith | Sauble Beach & District Lions |
Lion Ernie Fleming | Dublin & District Lions |
Lion Bill Hux | Orangeville Lions |
2022 Lions | |||
Lion Roy Dixon | Arthur Lions | ||
Lion Don Stewart | Shelburne & District Lions | ||
Lion Bryan Morton | Brussels Lions | ||
Lion Erwin Culp | Grand Valley | ||
Lion Fred Smith | Palmerston | ||
Lion Barry Bettridge | Sauble Beach & District | ||
Lion Fred Helwig | Neustadt & District | ||
Lion Bob Filsinger | Neustadt & District | ||
Lion Bill Robson | Mildmay & District | ||
Lion Bonnie Whitehead | Clifford & District | ||
Lion Jim Knight | Brussels Lions | ||
Lion Doreen Howe | Sauble Beach & District Lions | ||
Lion John Porter | West Grey Durham Lions | ||
Lion Bob Young | Centre Grey Lions | ||
Lion Max Demaray | Brussels Lions | ||
2021 Lions | |||
Lion Jane Blears | Amaranth | ||
Lion Ian Turner | Arthur | ||
Lion John Wain | Auburn & District | ||
Lion Bob Kellington | Brussels | ||
Lion Jack Knight | Brussels | ||
Lion Ivan Campbell PDG | Clifford & District | ||
Lion Norman Jack | Dundalk & District | ||
Lioness Betty Hooker-Vogan | Ferndal/Lion's Head Lioness Club | ||
Lion Joe Morgan | Grand Valley & District | ||
Lion Don Cass | Huron Shores | ||
Lion Dorothy Bogie | Londesboro & District | ||
Lion Keith Campbell | Mildmay & District | ||
Lion Paddy Rundle PDG | Palmerston | ||
Lion Wally Pollock | Ripley and District | ||
Lion Carl Taylor | Sauble Beach & District | ||
Lion Bill Scott | Seaforth | ||
Lion Bob Osborne PDG | Shelburne & District | ||
Lion Steve Canton | Wiarton & District | ||
2020 Lions | |||
Lion Ernie Phillips | Blyth Lions | ||
Lion Ray Gieseler | Chepstow & District Lions | ||
Lion Jerome Schurter | Chepstow & District Lions | ||
Lion Bruce Tigert | Ferndale/Lion's Head & District | ||
Lion Marlene Black | Goderich Lions | ||
Lion Doug Henry | Goderich Lions | ||
Lion Carl Suchard | Goderich Lions | ||
Lion Rick Nussey | Grand Valley & District Lions | ||
Lion Brenda Vrba | Hanover Lions | ||
Lion Dave Dailey | Kemble & District Lions | ||
Lion Andy Morris | Kemble & District Lions | ||
Lion John Norminton | Kincardine & District Lions | ||
Lion Allan Hackett | Lucknow & District Lions | ||
Lion Tom Hogan | Lucknow & District Lions | ||
Lion Russell Kennedy | Meaford & District Lions | ||
Lion Ken Hincks | Mount Forest Lions | ||
Lion Lyle Keeling | Owen Sound Scenic City Lions | ||
Lion Willi Nickerson | Owen Sound Scenic City Lions | ||
Lion Keith Nelson | Palmerston Lions | ||
Lion Doug Earle | Port Elgin & District Lions | ||
Lion Brian MacKay | Ripley & District Lions | ||
Lion Doug Coultes | Ripley & District Lions | ||
Lion Barb Hanna | Shelburne & District Lions | ||
Lion Bill France | Wiarton & District Lions | ||
Lion Dr. Jim Hall | Wingham Lions | ||
2019 Lions | |||
Lion Brent Barnes | Arthur Lions | ||
Lion Larry Broadfoot | Ferndale/Lions Head Lions | ||
Lion Edythe Dixon | West Grey Durham Lions | ||
Lion Ken Grigg | Auburn and District Lions | ||
Lion Lisa Haasnoot | Lucknow and District Lions | ||
Lion Sharon Hergott | Pike Lake Minto Lions | ||
Lion Maurice Jenkins | Goderich Lions | ||
Lion Jim Lombard | Ferndale/Lions Head Lions | ||
Lion Dan MacDonald | Ripley and District Lions | ||
Lion Sammy Malhotra | Kincardine and District Lions | ||
Lion Shirley Maluskie | Township of Chatsworth Desboro Lions | ||
Lion Jack McCutcheon | Brussels Lions | ||
Lion Mel McCutcheon | Brussels Lions | ||
Lion Betty Richardson | Sauble Beach and District Lions | ||
Lion Brad Sale | Ferndale/Lions Head Lions | ||
Lion Grace Schill | Formosa and District Lions | ||
Lion Jim Schneider | Auburn and District Lions | ||
Lion Bob Scott | Mildmay and District Lions | ||
Lion Michael Steele | Amaranth Lions | ||
Lion Ernie Tafeit | Goderich Lions | ||
Lion Gerard Voison | Formosa and District Lions | ||
Lion Albert Weber | Formosa and District Lions | ||
Lion Kathy Weber | Neustadt and District Lions | ||
Lion Ted Zarudny | Amaranth Lions | ||
2018 Lions | |||
Lion Bill Alcock | Goderich Lions Club | ||
Lion Jim Astles PDG | Mount Forest Lions | ||
Lion Barry Colman | Palmerston Lions | ||
Lion Ralph Foster | Goderich Lions | ||
Lion Stuart "Stu" Grigg | Kincardine and District Lions | ||
Lion George Lantz | Neustadt and District Lions | ||
Lion Ann Lichtenberg | Huron Shores Lions | ||
Lion Chris Lynam | Kincardine and District Lions | ||
Lion Don MacTavish | Ripley and District Lions | ||
Lion Ron Manske | Goderich Lions | ||
Lion Roy Mashford | Amaranth Lions | ||
Lion Gail Murphy | Amaranth Lions | ||
Lion David Muir | Sauble Beach and District Lions | ||
Lion Lorne Plantz | Neustadt and District Lions | ||
Lion Ernest "Ernie" Porter | Goderich Lions | ||
Lion Charlie Shaw | Blyth Lions | ||
Lion Eric Slade | Kincardine and District Lions | ||
Lion Norm Smith | Kincardine and District Lions | ||
Lion Gary Sothern | Palmerston Lions | ||
Lion Brian "Louie" Zettel | Chepstow and District Lions |