MARGARET ELIZABETH HEFFORD

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MARGARET ELIZABETH HEFFORD On Sunday, January 2, 2005, Margaret Hefford aged 90 years, passed away at the Tabor Home in Morden. Aunt Beth was born Margaret Elizabeth Garnett to Samuel Woodsworth Garnett and Isebel Gray (Dickson) Garnett on April 19, 1914 in the Thompson Municipality. Her early years were spent as a free spirited child, growing up and playing with her brothers and sister and following her dad around who she adored. Beth was courted by and married Frederick Melvin Hefford on September 12, 1935. Their life together was filled with hard work from dawn to dusk as they operated a grain farm as well as cattle, pigs, chickens, and of course horses. Beth loved her animals and especially those horses as she was on them daily as cattle were tended at two locations. She enjoyed the horses but did not like the harsh winter winds and cold. Beth's home was always neat and welcoming. She enjoyed entertaining guests whether friends who dropped in to play cards, hired men who helped work the land or the Mountain Glen Gleaner ladies who gathered to share their thoughts and a birthday cake which Beth would make and provide for those who celebrated that month. Beth was known throughout the area as an extraordinary cook and many have commented about the aromas coming from her kitchen and especially the taste of her pies. Beth worked hard each day with Fred in attending to farming duties caring for the animals, milking, feeding, cleaning up after them, fixing fence, repairing chicken coops and those many other functions of running a farm. Each animal received their own name and anyone who visited would be treated as Beth identified the one she was attending to at the time. Beth was a talented women who knitted, quilted blankets and hooked rugs. She produced excellent quality with more than a few red ribbons form the Miami Fair and was generous in giving these as gifts to those she called friends. If you entered into that close circle of people Beth considered a friend, she would reward you with a twinkle from her eyes and a warm and encouraging smile. Fred and Beth were not blessed with their own children and so, enjoyed the connection with nieces and nephews and visits from neighbouring children. Car rides to look at the fields, the Sunday afternoon dinner or to visit other family members were always a treat for Beth. Travelling was a delight and a few trips to Toronto to visit her niece, Betty Osborne and then the big trip to Scotland with Betty and another niece, Jodi (Bell) Prouix was exiting and provided for many fond memories, often revisited. Her heritage was important to Beth as she was proud that her family came from Scotland. In latter years as Fred began to frequent auction sales, Beth would accompany him and had an eye for quality china pieces. She delighted in getting exceptional quality for a low price. Beth was predeceased by her parents, sister and brothers and her husband Fred. She is remembered and missed with love by many nieces and nephews and in to the depths of many generations. As mentioned earlier, if you were a part of her inner circle, Beth radiated her love and affection to you through deed, acceptance and especially, her smile. We love you Aunt Beth. We wish to acknowledge and thank all the medical and Home Care ladies who supported Fred and Beth when the lived in Miami, Dr. Bob Menzies for his doctoring and support to Beth over the years and especially as Beth entered Tabor Home, the entire staff at Tabor Home who provided such warm and considerate care to support Beth in these last two and a half years, to the community of Miami for being the support and friend to Beth over a lifetime, to cousin Gerry Savage and special friend Myrtle Young who visited and sent cards, to Jim Burrows, David Burrows, Gord and Jan Hefford, Irv and Betty Hefford, Jack and Phyllis Donaghy, for those presents, flowers and regular letters from niece Betty Osborne, her nice Nancy Dreidger and husband Frank for the many visits especially the Santa surprises, for Linda and Wayne Bell and Rick and Arleigh Hefford for their commitment of love to Beth early when on the farm and and to be there for her during these last number of years as Beth and Fred transitioned from farm to town, through home care and finally with the loss of Fred and the time at Tabor Home, and for those many others who sent encouragement to an elderly lady in a nursing home. We are encouraged as Beth today is resting peacefully in the presence of her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 5 at 11:00 a.m., at Doyle's Funeral Chapel in Morden, MB. Interment will take place at 10:00 a.m. at the Miami Cemetery prior to the service. Doyle's Funeral Chapel in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 04, 2005