Laura Agnes Wilson
July 20, 1923 ~ August 31, 2015
Laura passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of August 31, 2015, at Swan Valley Lodge.
Laura was born in Edmonton, where she was raised and received her education. She loved playing basketball and enjoyed singing songs at the Baptist church. Later Laura went to secretarial school at the Baptist College in Edmonton. She worked as a nanny, traveling with a family to Banff, a trip that kindled her love for travel.
While visiting her sister Sadie in Creston Laura met Jens Wilson, a logger. Jens followed Laura back to Edmonton, where they were married on November 16, 1946. After a short honeymoon at Lake Louise, the couple returned to Creston. They gradually expanded Jens’s bachelor home on the corner of Hillside and 15th for three children. Laura has great memories of working at IGA, for Dr. Miller, the government office and in the hospital laundry.
In 1964 Wilson’s Florist Shop was opened. Wilson’s sold bedding plants, vegetables, asparagus, sodas, groceries and eventually flowers. Laura trained herself to be a florist and loved being creative and serving people.
In the mid 70s, Laura and Jens moved to Wynndel, leaving the florist shop to son Larry. Laura continued to grow outdoor flowers like gladiolas and asters.
Laura was a people person who loved life, music, flowers and to laugh. She sang with the Blossom Valley Singers, joined Toastmasters, did watercolors, enjoyed playing cards and Scrabble and cross country skiing. She also found time to inspire her grandchildren, join Jens on their boat, the Empress of Creston and travel to the U.S. including trip to assist with the annual New Year’s Rose Bowl Parade in California.
After Jens’ passing in 1992, Laura joined Edna Brummund on a three-month mission trip to Bogota, Columbia; enjoyed a trip to Europe and Denmark with her niece Carol, a Carribean cruise with sister Jeanette, a trip across Canada with daughter Louise and Bruce (who passed in 2012) for grandson Corey’s wedding in 2003 and family a trip to Alaska and Yukon in 2006.
Laura is survived by three children, Louise, Ronald and Larry; five grandsons and nine great grandchildren: Darryl and Amy Phelps (Gabrielle, William, Zachariah, Noah and Rosealynn), Corey and Jill Phelps (Malcolm and Ryan), Brandon and Sheila Phelps (Cecily and Olivia), Logan Wilson and Dylan Wilson.
She will be sorely missed by all.