SUSIE LOUVENIA MORGAN-JONES (HILLIS)

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SUSIE LOUVENIA MORGAN-JONES (nee HILLIS) September 9, 1914 - September 21, 2003 Susie (Sue) Louvenia Morgan-Jones, nee Hillis, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 21, 2003 at Golden Door Geriatric Centre, following a lengthy battle with Alzheimers Disease. She was 89 years of age. She was predeceased by her husband Marcus and will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her two daughters, Lynda and Sybil; her son-in-law Steve Thomas; her brothers, John and David; and her sisters, Marjorie and Anne. Sue was born September 9, 1914 at Roseisle, MB, the second daughter of Ezra and Susie Hillis. She completed Grade 10 and then took employment with T. Eaton Co. Limited, Winnipeg. She continued in this employment until her marriage. In 1936 she began smallbore target rifle competition as a member of an all female club formed from Eatons employees. She became one of the finest target rifle markswomen in Manitoba, and over her subsequent 25 year competitive career she won many competitions and awards. It was through target rifle competition that Sue first encountered Marcus Jones, also an expert marksman. Their first meeting was in 1939, as competitive rivals in a rifle match. They married in June 1941. The triumph of Sues competitive rifle career was winning the Labour Day 1944 Manitoba Small Bore Rifle Association Seventh International Outdoor Tournament Grand Aggregate Championship (Expert Class) with a new record score of 784X800, three points higher than the previous record set in 1942, by her husband Marcus. Although Marcus described this performance as "most tactless", he was quite proud of his wifes marksmanship. Sue was the first woman to win this event. During the Second World War Sues husband served in the Royal Canadian Air Force, as did all his male relatives of military age. The family business was left with no male family member to manage it. Sue filled the gap by taking on the duties normally performed by her husband and his cousins. She made sales calls, managed the office and factory, dealt with all the wartime government red tape and negotiated for the share of raw material import quotas needed to keep the factory going. She was remarkably successful, despite having no previous business training or experience. Without her efforts, the family business would not have survived the war. After the war, the firm presented her with a silver tray and a letter of grateful appreciation signed by all the shareholders. Throughout her life Sue was a warm, helpful, outgoing woman, a good neighbour and a good friend. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be arranged at a future date. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to a charity of your choice. LEATHERDALE GARDINER 1858 PORTAGE AVENUE 949-4872

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 27, 2003