MARION RUTH BRAGG (GOWAN)

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

MARION RUTH BRAGG (nee GOWAN) August 22, 1922 December 14, 2010 During the early morning hours of Tuesday, December 14, 2010, Marion Bragg (88 years), passed away peacefully at home with her husband and daughter by her side after a 46 year battle with Parkinson's Disease. Left to cherish her memory are her loving husband and partner of 65 years, Gordon; her children - Susan (Jim), Pat, Margaret (Blaine), Barb (Rick), and Bob (Anne); her grandchildren - Chris (Cissy), Jesse, Cory, Tessa, Rita, Shannon, Sam, Tyson, Leah, Carrie, Amber, Lucy, Rebecca, Charlotte, Suzanne; and great-grandchildren - Monica, Emma, Mackenzie, Gabriel, Jorgia; as well as her younger brother Alvin (Mary); sister-in-law Helen Bragg and many nieces and nephews (thanks Robbie and Fran for your many visits over the years). She was predeceased by her parents, William and Cora Gowan; her brothers Robert, Johnny and Bill; her infant sister Gladys and her infant daughter Julie. Marion was born in Katrime, Manitoba and grew up a country girl with many friends from the Gilbert Plains area who have kept in touch since their teenage years. (Jean Wolfe, Helen Sherman, Dorothy Thompson, and Marion Bell). She graduated from Brickburn Highschool in Gilbert Plains, as Valedictorian with an academic scholarship to the University of Manitoba. She graduated in the same year as her husband (1943), with a degree in Science quite an accomplishment at that time for a young woman from rural Manitoba. Although she once borrowed a science sweater from her future husband for an athletic picture for the yearbook, they did not date in University where she was a popular student involved in university athletics and recipient of the 1943 Lady Stick Award for the faculty. Marion started her career as a lab technician, working at the Winnipeg Children's hospital, and had the opportunity to work as an assistant with Dr. Bruce Chown on his significant work on the effects of the RH blood complications for newborn children which years later resulted in the manufacture of the Rh immune serum. Dr. Chown's work led to the prevention of the vast majority of potential Rh disease in Canada and elsewhere in the world. Marion and Gordon reconnected in Vancouver by happenstance a couple of years later, while Marion was working at the Vancouver General Hospital, and Gordon was working as a Meteorological Officer in Comox during the war years. After a year of courtship (which Gordon meticulously documented on a small piece of paper that resurfaced by accident 60 years later), they were married December 27, 1945. The next 65 years were spent living in a number of exciting and unique mining communities where Gordon was building his geological career, beginning with their first home which was a cozy log cabin on the shores of Island Lake in northern Manitoba. Always an adventurer, Marion suggested that she join him when he was offered the opportunity as a geologist prospecting in the community, on January 21st, 1946, just three weeks after their wedding. During that brief winter stay she managed to save the life of a local man who had developed a severe infection, by concocting lab tests in the camp kitchen and relaying the results to a doctor over the radio for immediate treatment. She also became the camp cook after the departure of one of the men who abandoned the camp just before breakup. The stories of scraping the maggots from meat when supplies were unavailable during a long breakup, and the pranks played on camp members by the newlyweds to keep spirits up gave us a sense of who this woman would become. Other communities followed such as Bissett, Flin Flon, Dobie (Ontario), Flin Flon (again), Sydney and Adelaide (Australia), Flin Flon (yes once again), Toronto and finally Winnipeg. Throughout these years, Marion raised five children, was heavily involved in community work, and continued to keep active with canoeing, tennis (with many awards under her belt), golf, curling, and badminton, as well as developing her artistic side with painting, sewing, knitting, copper work, and pottery. As children, we remember animal shaped pancakes, specialty birthday cakes and the best Hallowe'en costumes in the world. When diagnosed in 1964 with Parkinson's disease at the age of 42, she became very involved as a participant in new procedures and research to support the search for a cure. To fulfill her last wish to contribute to the research, Marion donated her brain to PROGENI a long term research project involving 1650 individuals with Parkinson's (she was the 16th person to be involved) which has led to many important advances in understanding of the role of genetics in Parkinson's Disease. Marion maintained her exceptionally strong independence streak (and some would say stubbornness) throughout her life. Gordon's absences while he was out prospecting, did not stop Marion from packing the car up with the five kids and camping gear and heading off on a month-long road trip across the country. As a family, many miles were put on the various stationwagons packed with kids and gear while camping across North America, a practice still enjoyed by all of us today. Once the kids were off on their own (at least for the time being) Marion and Gordon enjoyed travelling the world on their own (Portugal, Puerto Rico, England, Scotland, Hawaii, Caribbean, Florida, Mexico, California, Cruises) and enjoying life together. Although they eventually packed up the Woods 7-person tent that had been part of the camping memories for 50 some years in about 1997 (although it is still used to this day), they continued to travel Canada by specially equipped van from Vancouver Island to St. John's Newfoundland to Inuvik, with various family members joining them for assistance as Marion's illness progressed. These trips often included visits to various family members who were situated across the country, to check on their growing families. Although trips became shorter, Marion and Gordon were still driving to northern Manitoba for a few days at the lake as late as August of 2010. We all still remember her lakeside attempts to call loons on a quiet night. A tower of strength to her children, Marion espoused independence, goodness, humour, strength, wisdom, fun, compassion, intelligence and adventure. She was the essence of sweetness while facing adversity like a warrior. Even as the Parkinson's eventually deprived her of her mobility, and ultimately her communication, she remained the centre of family events and activities. In her last years, while communication was becoming more and more difficult, she would still interject with strong opinions, jokes and wise cracks much to the delight of us all. The devotion of her husband to care for her at home, many years by himself, was unparalleled and an absolute, totally unselfish, gift. She was truly the love of his life. The family would like to thank all the many Home Care workers who provided support and companionship to both Marion and Gordon, especially those who were part of her long term care, including Marife, Rizalyn, Paola, Hillary, Mae, Jeri, Kim, Karen and Debra; the various nurses who provided exceptional care; and with administrative assistance from Darcy and Filipina. As per her wish, there will be no funeral or memorial service, leaving friends and families to remember her in their own way, in their own time. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to Parkinson's research through the Parkinson Society of Manitoba or a charity of one's choice. We honour a wonderful woman, mother, partner and celebrate a life well lived.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 18, 2010