DOREEN EVELYN MCKECHNIE

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After a lifetime of love and laughter, Doreen Evelyn McKechnie (nee Matthews) slipped away peacefully on January 9th with her husband of 69 and 1/2 years at her side.

Left to cherish her memory are husband Gerald (Gerry); son Brett (Doreen, grandson Taylor); daughters, Brenda and Beth (Ross); sister Marjorie (Irvine) Marshall; sisters-in-law, Norma (Dorman) Hutchinson and Jean (Bob) Michel; numerous nieces and nephews and many friends. She is predeceased by sisters, Jean (Stan) Porritt, Hazel (Bill) Striker and Mary Matthews and brothers, Bob (Lois) Matthews, Murray (Lillian) Matthews, Glenn (Sheila) Matthews and Bill (Dolores) Matthews.

Mom was born on a farm outside Semans, SK, but moved to Regina at the tender age of 12 to continue her schooling. From there she went on to teacher's college ('Normal School') in Moose Jaw. As a new teacher at age 17, she was younger than some of the students in the one room school where she taught. After meeting Gerry McKechnie in Froude, the young married couple tried farming for three years but then switched to small town life when Dad took a job with Esso production department in Frobisher. From there, the family moved with Esso to Lampman, where mom taught junior high for 15 plus years and spent summers relaxing at the cabin at Kenosee Lake.

A year in Abu Dhabi for dad's work meant early retirement from teaching for mom. It was an exciting year for them both, travelling through Asia and Europe and living in the UAE. Returning to Canada, they escaped the cold winters for warmer climes in Texas and later Arizona and Osoyoos, BC. Mom put her teaching skills to good use in Weslaco, TX, where she taught ESL. The past 19 years have been spent in Brandon, MB, enjoying life with many of the same friends from Texas along with new ones.

Mom became an avid bridge player upon retirement, having learned to play in Abu Dhabi. Scrabble was another family favourite along with crib, kanasta and other card games. She tried to teach us mahjong but we never really caught on well enough to give her a decent game. She also loved listening to music, which might be why she married a saxophone player and put up with dad travelling with bands on the weekends to play in various other towns.

We will miss her terribly but are grateful for a peaceful end to a wonderful life. Wherever she is, we know she is smiling. A service will take place in spring/summer 2023.

As published in Brandon Sun on Jan 21, 2023