ELIZABETH GRACE WILCOX

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

ELIZABETH GRACE WILCOX Born, March 3, 1915. Passed away peacefully on November 27 at Victoria General Hospital, Winnipeg, after a brief illness. Predeceased by her parents, Frank and Grace Foster; aunt and uncle, Charlotte Austin and Normand Rudolph DesBrisay who raised her after her parent's untimely death in 1919; her sisters, Charlotte Ann Foster and Charlotte Ann DesBrisay; brother, John DesBrisay; her beloved husband, Clayton (HCG); her brother-in-law, Peter Lionel Baxter, and nephew, Andrew Mackenzie Baxter. She will be mourned by her sister, Evelyn Baxter, her nephew, John Baxter (Miranda); nieces, Mary Baxter (Robert Ostoff); Susan Baxter; Charlotte Jones (Kent); brother-in-law and close friend and support, Robert Baxter; and Robert's children, Pamela, Nancy, Hollister, David and Robert. She will be equally mourned by her friend, Barbara Aldous, great-nieces and nephews, Stephanie Baxter, Grace Benac, Maggie Jones (Michael Nemec), Cary Jones, and friends and family worldwide. Betty was born in Hubbards, Nova Scotia, in 1915. Her parents were victims of the Spanish Flu and died in San Francisco in 1919. She and her sister, Charlotte Foster, became part of their Aunt Charlie's family in Winnipeg. During the war she worked as a draughtsperson in New York for the Navy. She married Clayton, a pilot for the RAF, in 1944. The couple was stationed to England where they developed a wide circle of close friends. In 1960 Betty and Clayton returned to Winnipeg. Betty always had a keen interest in the arts and had special skills with textiles. She volunteered for many years with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, helping to design and create costumes for the company. She also volunteered for decades at the Winnipeg Art Gallery. She was incredibly supportive of her niece's and nephew's endeavours for which they are very grateful. We will all miss her warmth and sociability. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at St. George's Anglican Church at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, December 3. In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations may be made to: St. George's Anglican Church Memorial Fund; the Winnipeg Art Gallery; the SPCA; or a charity of your choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 30, 2012