Laura ARMSTRONG

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ARMSTRONG: Laura Alice Armstrong (Clarke) (Greenlay). Peacefully, with her daughters by her side, Laura passed away September 1, 2013 at Country Meadows Personal Care Home in Neepawa, Manitoba. She was 96 years old. She was born September 15, 1916 to Benjamin and Mary Jane Greenlay (Motz). She also had three brothers: William, David and Wesley and one sister Doreen. She spent her childhood on the family farm north of Napinka, Manitoba, and travelled, on foot, or by horseback to the Bernice School. After her father’s sudden death, she remained on the farm to help her Mum, eventually moving to Hartney, where she met and married Charles Lawrence Clarke, on December 6, 1941 They had two daughters; Leona and Sharon. After selling the farm in Hartney, Laura and Lorne moved for a short time to Penticton, BC, but moved back to the prairies and settled in Brandon, where they lived until Lorne’s sudden death in 1969. Laura re-married John James Armstrong in 1972. They moved to Surrey, BC where she lived for many years. Being widowed a second time, she moved back to the prairies saying “I feel like I’ve come home.” In 2002, she moved to the Brookdale area, and lived on the farm with her daughter Leona and son-in-law John. She spent her years on the farm enjoying the rural lifestyle again. She had come full circle on her long journey. She walked everyday, always followed by a parade of dogs and especially her best buddy “Willie”. She loved to feed the horses, sit on the swing, or in the sunroom, and listen to the birds sing and watch the gardens grow. She was very busy, playing bingo, berry picking, and especially in winter, watching curling. She travelled to many rinks to watch Leona and John curl or watching every draw on TV. She enjoyed watching the large machinery and semis coming into the yard during harvest (a huge change from her childhood farming days when the work was done with horses). In her younger years, she was very active in sports; curling, golfing, skating, and playing hockey. Later in life she was an avid bowler and still enjoyed a game of golf well into her 80’s. She loved to sew and do many crafts. She made dresses for herself and “her girls”, and she and her mother made quilts from the scraps of material; treasures we will cherish. Mum loved to travel. She went to Tennessee for the birth of her first grandchild, Cindy and many years later to Las Vegas for Cindy and Craig’s wedding. She travelled to Phoenix, Reno and many places across Canada. She loved to come home from BC by bus, but especially with Wayne and Sharon in the motorhome. At 93 years of age, she moved to Country Meadows P.C. Home in Neepawa where she participated in many activities. Her strong belief that “It is what it is” and “I am where I am supposed to be”, enabled her to live a long and healthy life. She was predeceased by her parents, Benjamin and Mary Jane Greenlay, brothers William, David, and Wesley, sister-in-law Olabel and brother-in-law Ron Gosselin, husbands Charles Lawrence Clarke and Jack Armstrong. She leaves to cherish her memory her children Leona (John) McKee, Sharon (Wayne) Gray, grandchildren Cindy (Craig) Bender, James Murray (partner Danny Lombardi), Cathy (Garth) Wright, Geoff (Margo) Gray and great-grandchildren, Carli and Kyler Gray and Tyler Wright. As well remembering are one sister Doreen Gosselin, a sister-in-law Ethel Bowles and many nieces and nephews. Friends are invited to join the family in a celebration of Laura’s life on September 28, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at the Community Hall in Napinka, Manitoba. Interment will be at the Napinka Cemetery. Cremation has taken place. Special thanks to White’s Funeral Home and to Country Meadows P.C. Home in Neepawa. To my family and friendsI go from you gentlyfor it is my timeto take the next stepin this journey of mine.Don’t grieve for me longI’ve not left you alone,for I will be with youin the love that we’ve known.That love is foreverand some day when it’s time,you’ll join me again, on this journey of mine.

As published in Brandon Sun on Sep 21, 2013