JUNE IRENE BAGLEY (BAKER)

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

JUNE IRENE BAGLEY (nee BAKER) Hall of Fame golfer June Irene Bagley, beloved and loving wife of Ralph Bagley for 48 years and devoted mother to Keith, Dennis and Nancy, passed away on Thursday, September 15, 2005 following a lingering illness at Victoria General Hospital. Born June 25, 1928, to Elizabeth and Arthur Baker, June spent her entire life in Manitoba (mostly in the St. Vital area of Winnipeg) and was acknowledged among the leading female golfers of the province over the years. It was golf that brought June and Ralph together some 50 years ago. June was a champion golfer and she won the heart of Winnipeg Free Press golf reporter Ralph. They were married February 9, 1957, at Norwood United Church and lived together in St. Vital for most of their partnership. A year at Neepawa in 1967-68 was her only stay outside of Winnipeg and for the past two years they resided in Fort Garry. June's father, Art Baker was the golf professional at the Winnipeg Canoe Club for 30 years, from 1924 until his death in 1954. Though he didn't push her into the game, he gave her encouragement and advice that helped her along the way. Her mother Betty was also a great supporter until her death in 1957. Beside her husband Ralph, survivors include son Keith, fiancee Pam and granddaughters, Camille, Kendra and Larissa in Kelowna, BC; son Dennis, wife Wendy and granddaughter Stephanie in Edmonton, AB; and daughter Nancy and husband Gord Kerr in Winnipeg. She will also be sadly missed by several close relatives and a wide circle of friends. June Baker was educated at Windsor School and Glenlawn Collegiate in St. Vital. She worked as a secretary, mainly at Canadian Indemnity and the Winnipeg Tribune, before taking on the full-time chore of mother and manager of the Bagley household. She was the first Manitoba golfer to win provincial championships at all three age levels. She was Manitoba junior women's champion in 1948, won the Manitoba amateur women's title in 1952 and won the Manitoba senior women's championship twice, in 1979 and 1981. She also added a City and District championship in 1965. She played in national competition on 14 provincial golf teams, five amateur (1952-53-55-56-57) and nine senior (1978-79-80-81-82-85-86-87-93). She had the distinction of winning a Manitoba championship or playing on a provincial team in six consecutive decades from 1948 through 1993. She also teamed with daughter Nancy to win several mother/daughter championships. Her golf career was recognized when she was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 2000, then was inducted into the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame in 2004. Over the years, June established a long list of friends and admirers as she enjoyed membership at such Winnipeg clubs as the Canoe Club, Niakwa, Elmhurst, Southwood, Rossmere, Harbour View and John Blumberg, as well as one season at the Neepawa Golf Club. She boasted club championship honours at most of those clubs. She was devoted to her children and grandchildren, spending many hours knitting patterned sweaters and producing Christmas cookies and lavish cakes for the four granddaughters, not to mention the knitting and sewing also done in earlier years for her husband and children. June was also an accomplished amateur artist and many of her best works adorn the walls of the Bagley suite as well as the homes of the offspring and some other relations and friends. She also had other artistic talents, including the manufacture of interesting earrings and other jewellery. She was also a volunteer worker, serving twice on the executive of the Manitoba Ladies' Golf Association, including a two-year term as provincial teams chairman and she was a past president of the Riverside Lionelles Club. June loved to golf and travel and she and Ralph shared happy memories of trips to visit the children combined with golf outings on some of the finest courses in British Columbia and Alberta. They also spent golf vacations around Minnesota, had one winter outing in Texas and played together often on a good number of Manitoba's fine golf layouts. Cremation has taken place and at her request there will no funeral service, but an informal and casual celebration of her life will be held on Wednesday, September 21, from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Celebrations Dinner Theatre in the Canad Inns Fort Garry, 1824 Pembina Hwy. Flowers are gratefully declined and those wishing to honour her memory could make a donation to the Manitoba Cancer Research Foundation, the Manitoba Heart and Stroke Fund or to any other charity. The Bagley family wish to express our sincere gratitude to the doctors, nurses and staff at Riverview Health Centre and Victoria General Hospital, with special thanks for the loving care provided during her final weeks from everyone on the staff of the Intensive Care Unit at Victoria Hospital. Arrangements entrusted to: VOYAGE FUNERAL HOME CREMATORIUM 1531 Pembina Highway 284-7500

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 17, 2005