MYRTLE IRENE LEE (RIACH)

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MYRTLE IRENE LEE (RIACH) Peacefully on Wednesday, June 22, 2005, at Oakview Place, Winnipeg, Myrtle Irene Lee, aged 88 years. Myrtle was born to W. E. (Ernie) and Alma Riach at her grandmother's home in Emerson on May 6, 1917, and raised in the village of Ridgeville where her father owned the lumber yard. From an early age, Myrtle's desire was to be a teacher and, encouraged by her parents, she achieved her goal in 1937 when she graduated from the old Normal School on William Avenue. During the following years, she taught at schools in Plumas, Westbourne, Gunton and Dominion City. While teaching in Gunton, she met A. E. (Ted) Lee, a local farmer, and on December 27, 1945, they were married. Myrtle spent the next decade farming with Ted. Two daughters were born - Linda in 1947 and Lesley in 1952. In 1956, she resumed teaching, first in Gunton and then, in 1960, in Stony Mountain. She was a teacher in Stony Mountain until she retired in 1977. Ted died in 1965 of complications following heart surgery, but the farm at Gunton continued to be home until 1969, when Myrtle moved to 56 Golden Gate Bay in St. James-Assiniboia. In 2000, at her family's urging, she moved to an apartment at the Metropolitan Kiwanis Courts at 2300 Ness Ave., and greatly enjoyed the people and the environment until deteriorating health necessitated a move to Oakview Place in February, 2005. Myrtle's family wish to thank the Oakview Place staff for their caring and innumerable kindnesses during Myrtle's final months. Myrtle's life and memory is cherished by her daughters, Linda and Lesley; her son-in-law Ian Elwood-Oates; four beloved grandchildren, Robin Elwood-Oates, Nicole Shirray, Adam Elwood-Oates and Jeffry Shirray; a sister, Mildred McCaig and husband, Bill (Saskatoon); three brothers, Lorne Riach (Ridgeville), Alvin Riach (Winnipeg), Clarence Riach and wife, Thelma (Port Coquitlam); Ted's surviving sisters and brothers, Hazel Cosens (Winnipeg), Pearl McIntyre (Winnipeg), Edna Tarrant (Stonewall), Stan Lee (Winnipeg), George Lee and wife, Julia (Stony Mountain); as well as numerous nieces and nephews living across Canada from British Columbia to Quebec. Myrtle was predeceased by another sister, Eleanor, in 2002, and a brother, Stewart, in 1978. Two other brothers died in infancy. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 28, at 2:30 p.m. at Sturgeon Creek United Church, 207 Thompson Dr. with Rev. Don McIntyre officiating. Interment will be at the Victoria Cemetery near Balmoral. In lieu of flowers, if friends wish, memorial donations may be made to Metropolitan Kiwanis Courts, 2300 Ness Ave. BARDAL FUNERAL HOME CREMATORIUM 843 Sherbrook Street, 774-7474 Condolences: www.bardal.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 25, 2005