(nee Jones)
Aug. 28, 1917 - Oct. 11, 2004
Born on August 28, 1917, Muriel was the first of three children born to Les and Lottie Jones on their homestead near Sanctuary, Saskatchewan about 80 km north of Swift Current.
Her growing years had simplicity and a beauty about them. She wrote, “I always enjoyed being together with my family - especially when the work was done. Everything felt peaceful, quiet and right! After school exams were over; summer holidays! To read in the shade - when the crops and garden were growing well.”
She grew up there and took her schooling at Sanctuary, being in the last class to graduate from grade 12 in that small school. After graduation she writes, “My first job was when the Nickasons south of Wiseton hired me to help with the harvest. In this household there were two elderly ladies and myself and the two young Nickason men. One morning I forgot to put the coffee in the coffeepot. The men had hot water that morning. I made some new friends, my husband Lorne was one of them.”
When she was 21, she married Lorne Wilson and they lived on a farm near Wiseton and farmed in partnership with Lorne’s family for 26 years. While there they had six children. They also lived in the town of Wiseton so that the children could be closer to school. In 1965 the family moved to Burnaby to live with Lorne’s mother Laura. Two years later they moved to Burns Lake. Muriel (or Moo as she was sometimes called) worked at the Burns lake Hospital and made many friends here. In 1980, Lorne and Muriel moved back to Burnaby to care for Grandma Laura. Lorne died there in 1985 and then Grandma Laura died in 87. After Laura’s death Muriel moved to live with her daughter Lauretta in Fraser Lake. Tragedy struck again in 1988 with the death of her daugher Frances and in 1997 with the death of her son Ray. Afer Muriel’s stroke, she moved to ‘The Pines’ where she brought sunshine to the residents and the workers.
Muriel was a very even, positive and happy person. She possessed a strong and unmoving character, solid and sure, the kind of person you can depend on. She was very accepting of people no matter what they were like. With a strong faith in God, she never complained, no matter what the situation was. She would always put a bright smile on her face and respond, “I’m okay.”
Muriel passed away peacefully in her sleep, Monday, October 11th at The Pines in Burns Lake, BC.
Muriel is survived by: Children Dave (Eleanor) Wilson, Nancy (Ken) Wilejto, Laurette (Ray) Wilson/Cavini, Myles (Shirley) Wilson.
Grandchildren: Tammy (Danny) Kattler, Trina (Kelly) Laverdiere, Tracy Wilson, Trudy (John) Fishley, Jeff (Rachel) Henry, Nola (Mark) Haidi, Dean (Janet) Wilson, Blair (Barb) Wilson, Susan (Trent) Benson, Randy (Carren) Wilson, Dave Wilejto, Steve Wilejto, Keona Wiley, Ami Wiley, Calvin Wilson, Ian Wilson, Charlotte Wilson, Rachel Wilson. And 35 great grandchildren.
Predeceased by: Husband - Lorne Wilson, daughter - Fran Henry, son - Ray Wilson, daughter-in-law - Zelda Wilson, granddaughters - Rhonda Wiley and Trisha Dauk (Henry).