Obituary of Edith Carrie Purkess

Edith Carrie, beloved wife of Thomas Purkess of Brandon, Manitoba passed away peacefully at the Valleyview Personal Care Home July 4, 2011. Mom was born in Holland, Manitoba February 7, 1926 to George and Isabella Thompson-part of a family nine kids with six sisters and two brothers. Attending school in Holland and helping with the family farm, upon graduation Mom's first job was as teacher at Southfield School near Sidney, Manitoba in 1944. She resided with the McGregor family who would later become her in-laws as she married Stanley McGregor in 1946. Edith and Stan purchased a farm in the Hilton District and together raised a family of five sons and one daughter. Mom worked side by side with Stan and the boys in the field-milking cows, and all of the daily farm chores. They were active in the community and with the Northfield Community Club. Mom also helped with driving the school bus, and worked off the farm at the Hwy. 2 and 18 Corner Esso as well as the Ninette Sanatorium. As owners of a privately owned school bus, Mom and Dad also spent many evenings transporting teams around the country to hockey or baseball events. In spring of 1975 they made plans to retire from farming and had just purchased a home in Brandon when Stan suddenly passed away. Mom moved to Brandon shortly after, and worked for Eatons and with Home Care. A devoted daughter she visited her ailing father in the nursing home every day without fail for the many years Grandpa was sick ensuring he was cared for and taking him for short excursions for ice cream. Edith married Tom January 25, 1985 and they enjoyed over 26 years of happiness. Edith and Tom loved to travel, and Mom visited many places including Alaska (twice), Florida, the Maritimes, Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, Germany, Italy, Hawaii along with many winters spent at Magic Valley, Texas, and summers at Elgin and Lake Metigoshe campgrounds. They moved to Lions Manor in 1999 and spent many happy years enjoying the social activities of the Manor particularly the many card game evenings. Mom loved to play cards-500, crib, whist or any other card game. Mom also loved to dance-square dancing first in Wawanesa and later in Brandon, and Mom and Tom would head out to any little town in western Manitoba where the country band The Fugitives were playing that night. Mom and Tom were honored to have The Fugitives play at their 20th wedding anniversary at the Central Community Center where they were very active members. Mom loved to take pictures, especially of her family, and you could never leave their Lions Manor apartment without her rushing out onto their 5th floor balcony no matter the weather to give you one last wave as you got into your vehicle. Edith was predeceased by her parents George and Isabella Thompson and husband Stanley McGregor. Lovingly remembered and missed by husband Tom Purkess, sons Keith (Dilys), George (Darlene), Richard, Glenn (Arlene), Brian and daughter Laurie, 12 Grandchildren and 13 great grand children who will all miss her hugs and waves, Sister Lil Williamson and sister-in-laws Doris Thompson, Ina Fagg, Mabel Hodgins, Elsie Schmidl, and Blanche McGregor. A graveside memorial service was held July 6th with internment at the Brandon cemetery with a time of sharing memories later at the George Brockie Fellowship Center. Donations in memory of Edith may be directed to the Alzheimer's Society, the Manitoba Lung Association, or a charity of your choice.