Margaret McLEAN

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McLEAN: Margaret Ethel McLean (nee Anderson) passed away at the Foyer Notre Dame Care Home, Notre Dame de Lourdes, MB on Sept 22, 2013 after reaching her 89th birthday. Margaret was born September 19, 1924 in Reston, MB. She lived most of her life in the Reston area, in town during her childhood and on the McLean homestead, Avondale Seed Farm, upon her marriage. As a child she lived with her parents in their home across from the Reston Memorial Park and the railway station. She loved to skate and dance, and excelled in school graduating from Reston Collegiate in 1942. Although she wished to become a teacher, she chose to work at the Reston Bank of Montreal in order to help care for her ailing father. She married Bill Mclean on November 5, 1948 and lived a busy life with all the chores of farm life as well as raising their three children. Margaret was proud to help establish a stellar reputation for the farm as an Elite Seed Grower operation. The Reston 4-H Home Economics Club was one of her passions for 16 years and she served as its club leader for the last ten. In particular, she enjoyed the preparation and presentation of the public-speaking competitions. She helped nurture leadership, social and organizational skills for so many young women. Margaret loved to square dance and Friday evenings were often spent dancing in the basement of the Reston Masonic lodge with the local dance group. Upon retirement from the farm in 1975, she and Bill moved to Brandon and for the next 16 years they split their time between there and their winter home in Phoenix, AZ. This time in her life also provided time to indulge in her love of travel and she enjoyed a trip back to England as well as many trips around North America. Margaret was able to continue her passion for public-speaking with the Brandon Toastmistress Club and also indulge in the many arts and crafts projects that she loved. Some of her fine oil paintings adorn the walls of her children’s homes. After Bill’s passing, she moved to a new home in Miami, MB and spent much of her time reading, enjoying her favourite TV shows, helping raise her grandchildren and enjoying the many visits from her extended family and many friends. Her kitchen fridge was always well-stocked and visitors left with full stomachs and fond memories of good stories and much laughter. She always kept on top of current events in the world and was the family archivist/historian, able to remember the details of the lives of her family members as well as her many life-long friends. Her love of animals, particularly cats and dogs, started as a young girl and continued throughout her life. She was never without at least one cat in her life and even after her move to the care home pictures of her favourite pets were displayed prominently in her room. Bird feeders outside her room window also gave her much joy. Margaret was not able to pursue a career in education, but she nurtured her children to recognize the value of higher education and her three children all became professional educators, two of whom married teachers as well. She was pre-deceased by her parents, Alfred and Florence Anderson, her husband of 46 years, William Gordon (Bill) McLean, her sister Doris (child) and her son-in-law, Bruce Andrews. She leaves to mourn her passing: daughter, Carol (Robert) Purves of Red Deer, AB; grandsons, Brad (Kim) Andrews, Carter and Victoria of Perth, Australia, Ryan (Renee) Andrews, Connor and Caleb of Cochrane, AB and Craig Purves, Liam of Edmonton, AB; granddaughters, Carla Hartman (Carmen), Tako and Aiden of Ft. Saskatchewan, AB and Sara-Anne (Matt) Doetsch, Anna Margaret, Tessa and William of Volo, IL; son, Greg (Marcia) of Swift Current, SK; grandsons, Brendan of Winnipeg, MB and Taylor of Swift Current, SK; granddaughter, Kelsea (Alex) of Charlottetown, PE; daughter, Joan (Dale) Robinson of Miami, MB; granddaughters, Holly of St. John’s, NL and Krista (Sierra) of Winnipeg, MB. Funeral service was held at the Reston United Church on Saturday, Sept 28, 2013 at 2 PM, with Rev. Dwight Rutherford officiating. Internment followed in the Reston Cemetery where she will rest beside her husband and near her parents and sister. If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to The Arthritis Society, #106 – 386 Broadway, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 3R6 or to the local Humane Society of your choice in Margaret’s memory. Arrangements were by G. R. Carscadden Funeral Chapel of Virden and Reston.

As published in Brandon Sun on Sep 28, 2013