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Mary Laidlaw Obituary
June 12, 1932 - December 23, 2016
Predeceased by her brother Murray and husband Charles (Chuck). Survived by her brother Robin, children Dan (Nikki), Patty (Roger), Jim (Nicole) and Judy (Glen). Also survived by grandchildren Ben, Jocelyn and Moira Laidlaw, Charlie and Bridgit Borek, Darby and Rowan MacPherson.
Born in Prince George to Pat (Wilson) and Walter (Crock) Crocker. Mary's father was a surveyor, newspaper man and Army officer. Mary enjoyed exploring the wild forested spaces around her home with her brothers and cousins as a child. When the family moved to Vancouver to provide special education for her younger brother Robin, Mary made new friends, some of whom have lasted a lifetime, and slowly adjusted to the busy pace of a big city. Her older brother Murray's death in WWII was devastating; Mary listened for planes overhead in case he was coming home after all.
One of the first of her group of friends to drive a car, she loved borrowing her dad's Chevy Coup for road trips up the Fraser Canyon and to Spanish Banks, the closest beach to the Crockers' Alma Street home. Her beloved extended family of Wilsons and Guiles remained part of the fun.
After her dad's death Mary took a road trip to Kamloops for a change of scene. There, she agreed to a blind date with an older bachelor basketball referee. Her "great legs" are what Chuck said he noticed first about her, but soon the two found lasting love. They enjoyed weekends exploring the countryside, going to dances, grouse hunting and fishing. They were married in 1959, had four kids and settled down in their Pine Street house. For over 40 years Chuck and Mary forged a simple, modest life full of riches that money can't buy: music, laughs, creativity, books, spirituality and love.
Mary accepted domestic life but her fun-loving and friendly side was always at the forefront. Visiting relatives in Oliver or Douglas Lake Ranch, hosting parties for the Referees' Association, participating in the life of Kamloops United Church and Camp Grafton and dancing at the Legion were a few of the good times Chuck and Mary shared. Their door was always open to old and new friends and the kettle was always on even when people showed up unannounced, which was almost a daily occurrence in the Laidlaw home. Mary invented creative dishes for a family on a low budget; to this day her Beanerinos and Mushroom Soup Sandwiches are favourites with her grandchildren.
Her creative side never dulled even when the demands of a busy family seemed overwhelming. Early mornings with a pad of paper, sketch book or novel were her special times to enjoy the quiet and indulge her love of words. CBC radio, the ever present tea pot and a spiral note pad were some of the elements that defined her kitchen.
Mary was a great listener. She and Chuck had a sympathetic heart for "the underdog" and always tried to honour the most vulnerable in our community with their actions, a value passed on to their children. Often the family sofa would be slept on by someone new who needed a hand up in the world. Young men referred from the John Howard Society were offered acceptance and a daily dose of love in the Laidlaw home. Mary would always offer the dignity of a listening ear and supportive hug to those who needed it, even if they were strangers. Together Mary and Chuck developed their family values of caring for the vulnerable, living a simple honest life and sharing a laugh, which their children and grandchildren still try to emulate.
Mary was an outspoken ally for First Nations rights, valued the natural environment greatly and reached out a friendly hand to gay and lesbian folk when a working-class married woman of her time and culture might not have been encouraged to do so. The Kamloops United Church community gave a home to those values and a structure to her spiritual beliefs which she valued greatly.
Camp Grafton was the place where Chuck and Mary's values really coalesced; decades of work, prayer and joy leave their mark on that institution to
this day.
In retirement, Mary joined the family slo-pitch team and proved to be a competent pitcher. She supported Chuck's forays into the Seniors' Games, writing for the Seniors Connector newspaper and enjoyed her garden full of flowers and birds, in spite of her hay fever.
When Alzheimer's advanced, Mary maintained her smile, her joy of singing and dancing and could still express herself eloquently with just her eyes. She passed away peacefully on a winter evening with her family all around.
Many thanks to Sam Bryce for her timeless wisdom and to the staff of Overlander Extended Care, Dr. Sigalet and Kamloops United Church for your loving care.
Donations accepted in Mary Laidlaw's name to the Camp Grafton Society, PO Box 602, Station Main, Kamloops, BC V2C 5L7.
Predeceased by her brother Murray and husband Charles (Chuck). Survived by her brother Robin, children Dan (Nikki), Patty (Roger), Jim (Nicole) and Judy (Glen). Also survived by grandchildren Ben, Jocelyn and Moira Laidlaw, Charlie and Bridgit Borek, Darby and Rowan MacPherson.
Born in Prince George to Pat (Wilson) and Walter (Crock) Crocker. Mary's father was a surveyor, newspaper man and Army officer. Mary enjoyed exploring the wild forested spaces around her home with her brothers and cousins as a child. When the family moved to Vancouver to provide special education for her younger brother Robin, Mary made new friends, some of whom have lasted a lifetime, and slowly adjusted to the busy pace of a big city. Her older brother Murray's death in WWII was devastating; Mary listened for planes overhead in case he was coming home after all.
One of the first of her group of friends to drive a car, she loved borrowing her dad's Chevy Coup for road trips up the Fraser Canyon and to Spanish Banks, the closest beach to the Crockers' Alma Street home. Her beloved extended family of Wilsons and Guiles remained part of the fun.
After her dad's death Mary took a road trip to Kamloops for a change of scene. There, she agreed to a blind date with an older bachelor basketball referee. Her "great legs" are what Chuck said he noticed first about her, but soon the two found lasting love. They enjoyed weekends exploring the countryside, going to dances, grouse hunting and fishing. They were married in 1959, had four kids and settled down in their Pine Street house. For over 40 years Chuck and Mary forged a simple, modest life full of riches that money can't buy: music, laughs, creativity, books, spirituality and love.
Mary accepted domestic life but her fun-loving and friendly side was always at the forefront. Visiting relatives in Oliver or Douglas Lake Ranch, hosting parties for the Referees' Association, participating in the life of Kamloops United Church and Camp Grafton and dancing at the Legion were a few of the good times Chuck and Mary shared. Their door was always open to old and new friends and the kettle was always on even when people showed up unannounced, which was almost a daily occurrence in the Laidlaw home. Mary invented creative dishes for a family on a low budget; to this day her Beanerinos and Mushroom Soup Sandwiches are favourites with her grandchildren.
Her creative side never dulled even when the demands of a busy family seemed overwhelming. Early mornings with a pad of paper, sketch book or novel were her special times to enjoy the quiet and indulge her love of words. CBC radio, the ever present tea pot and a spiral note pad were some of the elements that defined her kitchen.
Mary was a great listener. She and Chuck had a sympathetic heart for "the underdog" and always tried to honour the most vulnerable in our community with their actions, a value passed on to their children. Often the family sofa would be slept on by someone new who needed a hand up in the world. Young men referred from the John Howard Society were offered acceptance and a daily dose of love in the Laidlaw home. Mary would always offer the dignity of a listening ear and supportive hug to those who needed it, even if they were strangers. Together Mary and Chuck developed their family values of caring for the vulnerable, living a simple honest life and sharing a laugh, which their children and grandchildren still try to emulate.
Mary was an outspoken ally for First Nations rights, valued the natural environment greatly and reached out a friendly hand to gay and lesbian folk when a working-class married woman of her time and culture might not have been encouraged to do so. The Kamloops United Church community gave a home to those values and a structure to her spiritual beliefs which she valued greatly.
Camp Grafton was the place where Chuck and Mary's values really coalesced; decades of work, prayer and joy leave their mark on that institution to
this day.
In retirement, Mary joined the family slo-pitch team and proved to be a competent pitcher. She supported Chuck's forays into the Seniors' Games, writing for the Seniors Connector newspaper and enjoyed her garden full of flowers and birds, in spite of her hay fever.
When Alzheimer's advanced, Mary maintained her smile, her joy of singing and dancing and could still express herself eloquently with just her eyes. She passed away peacefully on a winter evening with her family all around.
Many thanks to Sam Bryce for her timeless wisdom and to the staff of Overlander Extended Care, Dr. Sigalet and Kamloops United Church for your loving care.
Donations accepted in Mary Laidlaw's name to the Camp Grafton Society, PO Box 602, Station Main, Kamloops, BC V2C 5L7.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by Kamloops This Week on Feb. 9, 2017.