Mary Ellen Smith
May 9, 1919 ~ June 20, 2016
It is with sadness we announce the passing of Mary Ellen Smith, formerly of Creston BC on June 20, 2016 at the age of 97 years.
Ellen was born May 9, 1919 at North East Point in Shelburne County, Nova Scotia to Emma Mae and Charles Edgar Crowell. She was the oldest of three girls and grew up in a small fishing community called Port La Tour. The daughter of a fisherman, she spent many days and nights with her dad fishing on the ocean. At the age of 18 Ellen married Arthur Jackson, having three children before sadly losing her husband in the war. Ellen valiantly took in boarders to help raise her children and it was during that time she was introduced to Frederick Allan Smith, eventually marrying again and moving from Nova Scotia to Creston, BC. Ellen was very active in the community, spending three years serving as president of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Royal Canadian Legion. She loved to cook and one of her favourite joys was hosting dinners with all her family. Hobbies included knitting, crafting and gardening, where you could always find a jar of preserves to take home.
After raising their six children, Ellen and Fred moved to Kamloops in 1984 and started travelling by motor home all over Canada and the US, many times taking some of their children and grandchildren with them. One of the highlights of their travels was a trip to South Korea.
After her husband Fred passed away in 2004, Ellen lived on her own for many years where she focused her travels on her trips across the street to play Bingo. Ellen's last 18 months were spent at Gemstone Care Centre in Kamloops where she received wonderful care from the staff.
Ellen was predeceased by two of her children, Bob and Jim; and son-in-law Lionel Ross and grandson Allan Ross.
She will be greatly missed by her remaining children, Sandra Rodgers (Creston), Barb Ross (Creston), Darlene (Lorne) Christianson (Kamloops) and Len (Eva) Smith (Calgary); as well as her many loving grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Saturday, June 25, 2016 at Kamloops Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to the charity of the donor's choice.