BARBARA LOIS WATTON (FILMORE / HICKSON)

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BARBARA LOIS WATTON
(nee FILMORE / HICKSON)

Mum was borne in Winnipeg on Tuesday, July 25, 1933, out of wedlock, to Mary Hickson and Percy Beddome. Regardless of the circumstance, she was welcomed and loved by many aunts, uncles, and grandparents with whom she spent memorable time on the family farm in Brandon. When Mum was still a toddler, Mary married Sidney Filmore who adopted and raised her as his own. Several years later the family was complete with the arrival of her little brother, Sidney.
Mum attended Gordon Bell High School where she was in the chorus of The Pirates of Penzance. Thus began her love of theatre which she passed on to her family with many trips to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and seasons tickets to The Arts Club with friends Bill and Jean Powrie. After high school, Mum completed secretarial training. In 1954, unbeknownst to her, friends entered her into the Miss Winnipeg Goldeyes competition and although she refused to participate in the swimsuit portion of the competition, she won! In 1957, urged by her friend, Dianne McDonald, she became the first non-RN Stewardess for Trans Canada Airlines and was off to be based in Montreal. She loved her adopted city as well as her many flights to and layovers in the Maritimes and Boston where she enjoyed lobster for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
She eventually transferred to Vancouver where she met Dad. He was a player travelling with the BC Lions Football Club and Mum was the stewardess. They were married in 1959 and three children followed. After a stint living in Hamilton, where Dad played for the Tiger Cats, Mum and Dad settled in North Vancouver. They bought the first house they viewed, in Norgate, where they made lifelong friends. In 1972, they moved to Edgemont where they lived for almost 50 years in the house on the creek at the corner of Sunset and Emerald
Throughout their marriage Mum worked part-time including in Ladies Sportswear at the original Eaton's store in Vancouver, then at the Pacific Centre and Park Royal locations. In her 40s, she obtained her driver's license and started Geppetto's Cottage Crafts. The business employed the entire family and many neighbourhood mums making Spice Ropes, thousands of which were sold across the country. That little business led to a waterfront cottage on Whidbey Island which led to yet another business – importing military surplus from Washington State. In her early 50s, with the prodding of her great friend, fellow stewardess, and bridesmaid, Marlene Clarke, Mum returned to Air Canada, in the YVR Medical Office, where she worked for several years. She then obtained a Real Estate License and became a top realtor with Mitten Prudential Sussex Realty.
Mum eventually retired, but she remained busy with six grandchildren, volunteering at Children's and Lions Gate Hospitals, cheering her Canucks, attending Rod Stewart, Il Divo, and The Tenors concerts, tending the family property in Kelowna and lots of travel. She had a passion for cruising and shared this with her children and grandchildren with journeys to the Caribbean, Alaska, New Zealand/Australia, the Mediterranean, and even after her memory began to fail, a final treasured voyage to Hawaii in 2017.
Mum passed away at the Waterford Care Centre in Tsawwassen on January 2, 2022.
She is survived by Ron, her husband of 62 years, daughter Susan (Warren Tucker, Katrina and Morgan), son Ronald (children, Sierra and Colby), and daughter Leslie (Victor Hammill, William and Victoria).
In memory of Mum, enjoy some See's Chocolates (but she didn't have a sweet tooth), indulge in a favourite food (an oyster omelette, savoury French toast, a plate of perogies, a bubbled-up cheese sandwich with onion, or anything with butter) or consider a donation to the BC Cancer Agency or BC Children's Hospital.
Years ago, the night before Mum's Aunty Josie passed, Josie had a dream that her father, Mum's grandfather, had come to her. He said, "come on up Josie, we're having a party". With many loved ones to welcome her, Mum has now joined the party.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 08, 2022