JEAN AGNES CLARKE (MURRAY)

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JEAN AGNES CLARKE (nee MURRAY) August 4, 1928 - April 27, 2013 Our gentle, creative and loving wife, mom, grandma, aunt and friend died peacefully, Saturday, April 27, 2013 after a brave journey with cancer. She gave all she had to those she loved and led a full and graceful life. She was both a strong and gentle woman. Jean leaves to mourn her passing Leo, her dear husband of nearly 60 years, her children Alison (Roger), Jennifer (Don), Paul (Kathleen) and Eric (Marica), her most beloved grandchildren, Charlie, Daniel and Catherine, her devoted nephew Roddy (Leslie), and her best friend, Irene Baldwin. Also grieving her passing are many cousins in the UK and New Zealand, and many friends. She was predeceased by her parents Gormelia and Alex Murray, sister Catherine Frisken, brother Angus, sister Margaret and dear nephew Sandy Frisken. Jean was born in Winnipeg and at a young age moved to Calgary. It was there her family suffered the loss of both her brother Angus at 12 and her infant sister Margaret. The family returned to Winnipeg where Jean first attended Laura Secord School, where all of her grandchildren would also later attend, and then Queenston, Kelvin and United College. After high school, Jean worked at Eaton's, where her Dad was Chief Engineer. Throughout her life, Jean was a problem solver and whenever she solved a complex problem, she would just say, "Well I am the daughter of an Engineer!" Jean made many life-long friends at Eaton's and they were part of a sewing circle, played baseball, bowled and laughed lots. Eaton's was also where she met Leo. Jean worked in the Children's Department and Leo worked across the aisle in Children's Shoes. He was attracted by her warmth, spirit, humour and red hair. They were married on July 3, 1953. Their life together was filled with kids, moves, church, camping and their cottage on Lake Winnipeg. They moved to Saskatoon, Regina and then back to Winnipeg. No matter where they went, Jean made the house a home. She was always involved in the kids' activities, from school events, to church groups, Cubs and Scouts and music lessons. Jean loved to garden, to bake Scottish foods like mealy puddings, scones and her famous scotch broth. Jean was quietly creative. She wrote anecdotes for magazines, short stories and a children's story for her grandchildren. In 1998, she composed "A Song of Lewis" about the place in Scotland where her parents were born. She was thrilled when Jennifer and her band recorded it and then took it to Lewis where it was played on BBC Scotland and Isles FM. She was quietly so very proud of her song, and rightly so. Family and friends were everything to Jean. She sewed, cooked, played piano, laughed and loved her way through the years and we are all the richer for her love, humour, humility and devotion. A celebration of Jean's life will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 3, 2013 at Thomson Funeral Home, 669 Broadway Ave. with the Reverend Bruce Miles officiating. A private, family interment will have taken place before the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jean's memory to the Anishinabe Fellowship Centre.
Publish Date: May 1, 2013

JEAN AGNES CLARKE (nee MURRAY) Jean passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 27, 2013. Longer obituary to follow.
Publish Date: Apr 29, 2013

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 01, 2013