We are sad to announce the passing of our beloved mother Daisy Gunson. She passed away peacefully at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital with her family at her side, just shy of her 90th birthday on Sunday, January 19, 2014.
Daisy was born to Frederick George Ward and Rosie Maria Ward (nee Wells) on their family farmstead on May 24, 1924, 8 miles out of Bangor Saskatchewan. She was the 6th of 7 children, having 5 sisters and 1 brother. In her early years the family moved north to the Okla area where she was raised until she joined the RCAF in 1943 to serve in WWII until after the war ended in 1946.
After the war Daisy took an education opportunity from Veterans affairs and became an RN. It was there she met and later married her late husband William Edwin Gunson in 1952. They moved to Cranbrook in 1956 and they bought the house on 9th in 1957 where she resided until her passing.
Daisy worked at both the old St. Eugene Hospital and the old Cranbrook Regional Hospital until her retirement in 1978. She was very civic minded and obtained life memberships with The Royal Canadian Legion LA, The United Church Women, The Seniors Branch #11 and The Hospital Auxiliary. She devoted her life to doing things for others.
Upon retirement Daisy kept busy with the church and other organizations participating in many catering and fundraising activities. She worked regularly in both the Thrift Shop and The Cellar and spent leisure time at home knitting, crocheting and sewing and gardening, camping and travelling with the Good Sams and dancing with the Belles and Beaus Square dance club. In later years Daisy tried her hand at painting with the Seniors Art Club and enjoyed volunteering at the south side tourist booth. Daisy was kind and caring and she held on to her sense of humour until the very end.
Daisy was predeceased by her parents, her loving husband Ed, her sisters Ellen, Bessie, Lavinia, May, Nancy, brother Fred, infant daughter Charlotte Ellen and her grandson Neil Burr. She leaves to mourn her daughter Linda Haley of Cranbrook, 3 sons Ward (Leata) of Grande Prairie, Lionel (Carla) of Port Hardy and Malcolm (Darla) of High Level, stepdaughter Laurel Fenty, 13 grandchildren and as many great grandchildren - at last count.
A memorial service for Daisy will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, January 28th, 2014 at the Cranbrook United Church. Her Internment will follow at Westlawn Cemetery. A reception at the Seniors Hall will follow the Interment. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon, Okanagan/Kootenays Area Office, #4, 1551 - Sutherland Avenue, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1Y 9M9 or the: Canadian Cancer Society, 19 - 9th Avenue South, Cranbrook, British Columbia, V1C 2L9 or the: Hospital Auxiliary, 13 – 24th Avenue North, Cranbrook, British Columbia, V1C 3H9.