MARY ELIZABETH (MAE) WHITLEY

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MARY ELIZABETH (MAE) WHITLEY Mary Elizabeth (Mae) Whitley, widow of Thomas M. Whitley, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away at the Charleswood Care Centre on November 13, 2001. Mae was born at Elgin, MB on May 1, 1903, the youngest child of prairie homesteaders, Hettie and Angus Leslie. She spent her earlier years on the family homestead and attended school in Elgin. In 1923 she was accepted to Normal School in Estevan, SK. This was followed by 15 years of teaching at Yellowgrass, Alameda, Carnduff, Areola, Wawota in Saskatchewan and at Regent, Elgin and Glenboro in Manitoba. On July 21, 1938 she married Tom Whitley and moved to Boissevain where Tom was the school principal and it was here that their three children were born. In 1947 the family moved to Neepawa and in 1953 when Tom was appointed Inspector of Schools they moved to Morris. In 1966 they moved to their home on Ash Street in Winnipeg where they spent many happy years surrounded by family until Toms death in February 2000. Recently Mae had been a resident of the Charleswood Care Centre. Mae was a member of Oxford United Church and Friendship Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star. She was active in her church and in volunteer activities wherever she lived. She was an artistic and creative person and enjoyed china painting and painting in oils and watercolour. She was a member of the Winnipeg China Painters. Her second home was the family cabin at Clear Lake. She never missed a summer in 53 years. She was always in awe of sunsets at the lake and challenged herself to capture their perfection in paint. Maes greatest achievement was as wife, mother and grandmother. She loved being surrounded by her family. In her memoirs she wrote, "I loved children and really enjoyed my teaching career - it is a wonderful profession, but cant be compared to being a wife and mother which has made my life full and complete thanks to a wonderful husband and the best family one could ever wish for." She will be lovingly remembered by daughter Ruth and son-in law Jim Partridge, son Don and daughter-in-law Janette, son Bob and daughter-in-law Mim; granddaughters, Leslie Partridge, Janelle and Danielle Whitley; grandsons, Chris Partridge (Heather), Ryan (Jana), Rhett (Kerry) and Rory Whitley; and great-grandson McKinley Whitley. Mae was predeceased by her brothers, Robert and Lorne Leslie; and her sisters, Ottie Mair and Annie Reid. Friends may call at Thomson Funeral Chapels, 669 Broadway, for viewing on Thursday, November 15 (tonight) from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Interment service will be held on Friday, November 16 at 2:15 p.m. in Garry Memorial Park, 1291 McGillivray Blvd. Pallbearers will be Chris Partridge, Ryan Whitley, Rhett Whitley, Rory Whitley, Les Reid and Rod Johnson. Funeral service will be at the Thomson Funeral Chapels on Friday, November 16 at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Maes memory to a charity of your choice. Many thanks to the compassionate staff at the Charleswood Care Centre. THOMSON FUNERAL CHAPELS 783-7211

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 15, 2001