BEATRICE MARY MCGURRAN (COYNE)

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BEATRICE MARY MCGURRAN (nee COYNE) It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of our Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother, Beatrice Mary McGurran (nee Coyne) on Sunday, June 5, 2011. She will be remembered by her eight precious children , Edward (May) McGurran, Rita Moore, Barbara (Robert) Pretty, John (Jacquie) McGurran, Daniel (Georgina) McGurran, Marian (Richard) Scott, Doraine (Dennis) Wachniak and Maureen (Marty) Orr . Her 20 grandchildren, Tracey (Rene) Levasseur; Shawn (Adrienne) McGurran; Kerry (Mark) Duguay; Krista Moore-Phillips, Karen (Heinz) Isbach; Curtis (Carla) Moore; Tannia (Jamie) Canniff; Dallas (Patricia) Pretty; Jay (Shamara) McGurran; Lucas McGurran; Alix McGurran; Jamie (Alisa) McGurran; Jennifer (Geoff) Larner; Codi-Lee (Jonathan) Page; Jeffrey Scott; Jeremy Scott; Kori Wachniak; Jody Wachniak; Randi (Kyle) Smith; Kathleen Conn. Her 23 great-grandchildren - Danielle, Colleen and Nicole Levasseur; Taylor, Conner and Liam McGurran; Justin, Ryan and Jordon Duguay; Brooke, Ashton and Taryan Isbach; Hayden and Rylan Moore; Madelyn Canniff; Jackson Pretty; Cavanagh and Carris McGurran; Alexa McGurran; Addison and Avery Page; Twin - babies, Austin and Tagg Smith. Beatrice also leaves her sister Penny Arnold and sister-in-law Marge Gillis. Beatrice was predeceased by her loving husband John Wilfred on April 20, 1991; her parents, Luke and Bertha Coyne; her brother Edward; and (grand) son-in-law Daryl Phillips. Our wonderful mother was born in Dauphin, Manitoba on May 14, 1922, the eldest daughter of Luke and Bertha Coyne. She was educated in a one room school house in rural Dauphin and then went on to Ste. Rose to finish her education at the Convent. After completion of Grade 11, our Mom found work in Dauphin at the Dauphin Medical Clinic. She met our Dad at a barn raising dance and it was love at first sight, and so began the romance between the beautiful farm girl and the handsome Air Force pharmacist. Jack and Bea were married in Dauphin, on August 12, 1942 at St. Victors Roman Catholic Church. They spent some time in Dauphin and Souris before settling in Winnipeg. Initially they lived on Ronald Street and in 1947 they purchased a home in St. Boniface on Des Meurons. Once baby #6 arrived, a larger home was in order and they made the move to Niakwa Park. By 1958 their family had grown to eight children. Our Mom's days were filled with raising eight children, volunteering for every committee and organization that needed help and as well working alongside her husband on many political campaigns. Bea was instrumental in organizing Home and School Associations at her children's schools and co-ordinating the canvassing for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, as well as Director of Canvassing for the Canadian Cancer Society. In September 1973 they left the city for life in the country, moving to an acreage just outside of Oakbank, better known to all of us as The Farm . Although our Mom's educational training was in the medical secretary field, her love of books and reading led her to a lifelong career as an elementary school librarian. For 27 years she worked for the Transcona/Springfield School Division as the librarian at Oakbank Elementary. Many a student will remember the special book readings during library time, as well as, the ever famous Eager Beaver Reading and Winnie the Pooh Book Clubs she was instrumental in starting. Her love of reading never ended, even as recent as Thursday, June 2, 2011 she renewed her Winnipeg Library membership and took out 12 books, so that she would have something to read for the next couple of weeks . Mom always joked that she would retire when the kindergarten students were taller than her...and in 1997 that is just what happened. But, she did not stop learning, she returned to school in the Adult Education program to complete her Grade X11 requirements, graduating with her Mature Student High School Diploma in June, 2003. To further her musical career, Bea started to take piano lessons this past Spring, once again proving to the family that learning is lifelong. For many years Mom and her son John ran McGurran's Garden Centre in downtown Oakbank. She loved plants and flowers and it was evident when you drove into her yard...her flower beds were always spectacular. Along with her beautiful flowers, Mom was the keeper of the birds and the wildlife along Highway 206. Never did a wild animal leave her yard feeling hungry, there was always plenty of wild bird seed or special food for the deer. As well our home was always full of domestic animals, from bunny rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, cats and of course we always had dogs. Our Dad always said Mom was only happy when there was a smell of manure in the air, so as soon as we moved to the farm the animals started to arrive, we had Quarter Horses, goats, pigs and of course the famous egg laying chickens; with the occasional convalescing chicken sharing a spot in her kitchen and always a few dumb roosters. Hauling hay, mucking the barn, driving Doraine and Maureen to every local horse show, specifically the Canadian Western Horse Association shows, and the always exciting Morris Stampede. Our Mom's life was never boring or dull. The year she won the Jack Benny Class at Morris Stampede was a highlight. During all this time our parents had the fortitude and desire to have a summer home, so in 1958 they leased land at Nutimik Lake and built McGurran's Leprechaun Inn . Our summers were spent at the lake, entertaining family and friends. Every week was a new adventure, swimming, fishing and picnics to Rainbow Falls. This is still a favourite holiday destination for all the family. As recently as this past May long weekend, Mom had four wonderful days at the lake with 25 family members, celebrating her 89th birthday with great food, cold drinks and lots of laughs. Our Mom was always active in her church, while attending as a parishioner at Holy Cross, St Bernadette's, Our Lady of the Whiteshell and for the past 38 years at St. Michaels in Cooks Creek. Prayers will be said on Monday, June 13 at 7:00 p.m. at the Klassen Funeral Home, 1897 Henderson Highway with Mass of the Resurrection celebrated on Tuesday, June 14 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Michael's Church in Cooks Creek. Interment will follow in Cooks Creek Cemetery. Eulogies at the Mass will be given by family and close friends. Active pallbearers will be her grandsons, Shawn, Curtis, Dallas, Jay, Lucas, Jamie, Jeffrey, Jeremy and Jody. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, donations may be made to Mom's most treasured foundation, The Canadian Wildlife Federation, 350 Michael Cowpland Drive, Kanata, Ontario K2M 2W1. BEATRICE MARY MCGURRAN The family wishes to express our heartfelt thanks to all of our mother's caregivers over the past three years. A special thank you to the kind and understanding friends/caregivers at Kin Place Personal Care Home in Oakbank, although our mother never really felt at home anywhere but on her farm, you gave the family peace of mind knowing that you truly cared about her and treated her with the upmost love and respect. MOTHER You can only have one mother Patient, kind and true. No other friend in all the world, Would be so true to you. For all her loving kindness, She asked nothing in return. If all the world deserted us, To mother we would turn. To those who have a mother, Treasure her with care. For you will never miss her Till you know that she's not there. We miss you more than anyone knows, Each day that passes the emptiness grows, The tears in our eyes will wipe away, But the ache in our heart will always stay. God put Your arms around her, Keep her in Your care, Make up for all she suffered, And all that was unfair. If all the world were ours to give, We'd give it yes and more To see your loving smile again And greet you at the door. How often there comes before us, Your dear face so kind and true, For death can never take away Our memories of you. Your memory, dear Mom, will never grow old, It's locked in our heart in letters of gold. Mom, we love you. We will always hear your voice in our minds and feel your spirit in our hearts. You were a wonderful inspiration in all of our lives. Arrangements entrusted to: KLASSEN FUNERAL HOME 1897 Henderson Hwy. - 338-0331 Send expressions of sympathy at www.klassenfuneralhome.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 11, 2011