Beatrice May (Bessie) Salter & Raymond Flynn

Beatrice May Salter and Raymond Flynn as they were wife and husband. 

Bessie Salter Flynn c. 1965

Bessie, as she was known, was my grandmother's young cousin and was born in Forteau, Labrador. One of the most amusing ancestors I have known, Bessie was the complete personality opposite to my grandmother Poole. While my grandmother was what we would term very lady-like, Bessie was more of the tomboy type. Don't get me wrong, she had manners but she was rough and tumble and was very outspoken.

Ray Flynn c. 1970

She married Ray Flynn also of Forteau who like most of the men in the area was a fisherman. The most interesting story I remember about Ray was the time he was caught in a Strait of Belle Isle storm that had come from nowhere. It hadn't been forwarned and caught many off guard. I can't remember if it was the spring or the fall of the year but I know he was alone in his small boat where the freezing cold water of the Straits is unforgiving. When he did not return to the community wharf, Bessie and the other residents became very worried. I believe the storm continued overnight but broke the next morning. Searchers from the communities along the Straits set out to find him. Still alive but suffering from hypothermia, Ray was found holding onto his capsized boat literally hanging onto life. He was brought back to Forteau hospital where he recovered fully. It was only then did he relay his ordeal; that the boat had capsized very early in the raging storm and he had spent the entire time in the water. He was one very lucky man indeed.

Bessie Salter Flynn at Forteau Nursing Station 1940's

Back to cousin Bessie: I was told this story by my mom's first cousin, Loretta Poole of Brooklyn, New York. My grandmother Poole had been the postmistress of Forteau post office for many years. When my mom, her parents and grandmother moved to Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Bessie was appointed the new postmistress of Forteau. While most people picked up their mail, some of it was to be delivered. This was no problem for Bessie as she was quite happy to do so. However, she was told that she could only deliver to a certain area along the coast. Well, Bessie wasn't much for being told what she could or couldn't do expecially if she believed it was unfair to others. Once it was found out that she was going beyond her area, the head of the postal offices decided to place a post (yes, an acutal post) to indicate that Bessie was not to go beyond that point, or was the case, that post! And so she didn't. Every time Bessie set out for her deliveries, she uprooted the post and placed it to where she wanted to go and then returned it to its original spot at the end of the day. Well, she didn't go beyond the post now did she? And that was Bessie Salter Flynn.

In the '70's, Bessie was stricken with breast cancer and was recuperating from the life-saving operation. I think she was at the St. Anthony hospital when Ray came for one of his frequent visits. He excused himself for a few minutes to go to the washroom but he didn't return. After considerable, Bessie asked one of the nurses to look for him. Sadly, Ray was not going to return to Bessie's bedside as he had suffered a massive heart attack and had died.

As did my grandmother, Bessie went on to gather the oral history of the Straits. For this and other efforts, she received the Order of Canada.

From the Governor General of Canada's website:

A former postmistress, she has long been devoted to her Labrador community, helping to detect enemy aircraft during wartime and working for many years as a volunteer with charitable, church and youth associations. Through her storytelling, in collecting books and papers, and by supporting, encouraging and teaching traditional craft techniques, she has helped safeguard the heritage of the Labrador Straits region.

Sadly, Bessie died before her investiture into the Order. She passed away on June 1, 1994 but not before learning of the honour.