October 25, 2015 - December 18, 2020
It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our Centennial Girl.
Mary was born on Moore's Meadow in Fort George, BC to Charles and Mabel Hughes, who had immigrated from Wales. She is predeceased by her parents, older brother William Hughes, sister Elizabeth and brother-in-law Bob Comfort, husbands William (Bill) Davies and Darrel Foote, uncles, aunts and cousins (both Canadian and Welsh).
She is survived by her daughter Edith (Clarence) Olson, step-son Bill (Shirley) Foote, Grandson Michael (Alessandra), great grandchildren Mattias and Amy, granddaughter Krista (Patrick).
As well niece Margaret (Bill) Carmichael, nephew Bob (Linda) Comfort, Davies nieces and nephews, Canadian and Welsh cousins and generations of their families. Countless friends are also saddened by her passing.
It will be hard to describe the full life of a woman who lived to be 105 !!!.
Imagine - 2 world Pandemics in her lifetime. The development of transportation and technology where we can travel to and talk from space. A man on the moon !!
In 1919 the Hughes family moved to the Mud River Valley, a rural area beyond Prince George. They lived on the Cunningham ranch where her father farmed, trapped and guided. Bill, Mary and Betty lived the simple but difficult life of the 1920's and attended the local school.
One winter they ran a trap line on their way to and from school and were able to buy the family's 1st radio ($132, battery operated), from the sale of the pelts.
The family returned to the city of Prince George in 1929 so Bill and Mary could attend High School. Mary wanted to become a nurse, but her parents felt it was too harsh of a life. She enjoyed her academic studies, secretarial courses and bookkeeping. That prepared her for the next phase of her life, when the family moved to the Wells/Barkerville area in 1934.
She and brother Bill ran their father's general store, C.H. Hughes & Son, selling supplies to the Barkerville miners and local residents. Her family still has the gold scales used to weigh the gold dust and nuggets given for payment.
There she met and married Bill Davies, a Saskatchewan farm boy who had come to Barkerville to work in the mines. He was drawn into the Hughes family, attending their gatherings to sing (for which the Welsh are famous) as he too had Welsh parents. When the mines finally closed, they moved to Aldergrove to a farm directly across from the Aldergrove Naval base.
Their daughter Edith was born in 1945.
Mary was very active in the Aldergrove United Church, Royal Purple, the activities and school life of Edith, and the hard work of farm life while making a home for her family. She often had foster children join their family. As well, during the 1960's, there were First Nation high school students that lived with them.
Their circle of friends were a large, fun filled group from all walks of life. She "adopted" many of Edith's school friends, who are also sad to say goodbye.
She will be missed by dear friends Ida (Story) McDonald, Elsie Beggs, Jean Makela, Dorothy Ferguson, and Hazel Suddaby.
Bill died in 1966. Mary sold their farm and moved to White Rock in 1967 to care for her mother. Not an easy adjustment from a busy farm life to residential living. For a time she worked in the Eaton's catalogue store. Her love of singing lead her to join the Sweet Adalines.
In 1972 she married Darrel Foote. When he retired, they moved to Vancouver Island (Qualicum), where they enjoyed the slower pace of island life. She returned to Langley, in her late 70's, to be near Edith and her family.
Grandma Foote became the team mascot of the many sport teams on which Michael & Krista played. When she purchased her apartment (Parkway Estates) she immediately became a part of their active, caring community, that she enjoyed for 23 years. Resident and friend, Agnes Hughes, will miss their crib games.
The arrival of great grandchildren, Mattias and Amy, gave "GG" enormous joy. She often remarked how their lives would know no boundaries with future advancements that will happen in their lifetime. She wished she had been born 50 years later so computers would have been her life.
At age 99 to 104 Mary was the oldest Canadian participant in the Crohn's & Colitis Canada's Gutsy Walk annual fundraiser in support of granddaughter Krista and 2 great nieces.
This year she did a virtual walk, in front of her assisted living complex, because of Covid, cheered on by residents from their balconies.
Each month of her 100th year, family and friends joined her for a special event. One outing was to the Brittania Mines in Squamish. All the years she had lived in Wells, residents had never been allowed to go into the mines and she had always wanted a chance to go underground. After the final December event, Mary added Breast Cancer survivor to her accomplishments.
A fall at age 102, required hip surgery. She decided that Evergreen Timbers, a Langley Lion's Society complex, would be a happy, caring home for the final phase of her life. She had gone there for years to the Old Age Pensioner's Bingo, so had friends in residence.
They and long time Bingo buddy,
Marilyn Peter, will miss her. Her family is SO happy that she made that choice.!!! The awesome staff gave such wonderful care to Mary. They have managed to keep the complex Covid free, for which everyone is forever thankful.
Just before her 105th birthday Mary entered hospital for a 7 week stay, due to a blood infection. Thankfully Edith was able to be with her Oct. 25th to celebrate that milestone. She did return to Evergreen but had become very frail. Family feel she decided to "Do It My Way" (Sinatra also born 1915) and peacefully joined all her family and friends who were awaiting her.
SHE WILL BE IN OUR HEARTS FOREVER!!
We are going to be doing a VIRTUAL Celebration of Life on Sunday Feb. 28 at 3 pm BC time. Please email Krista Olson and hipchic22@hotmail.com if you would like to attend and an invitation will be sent to you closer to Feb. 28th.
If you would like to submit photos, memories, poems, etc, you can also email those to Krista. If you would like to pre-record a video or do a live speaking, please let us know as well. Submission deadline is Feb. 10th.
The event will be recorded so you may also watch at at later date if you are not able to attend in person. As well, an online "scrapbook" will be created that can be viewed after the event.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Crohn's & Colitis Canada at www.crohnsandcolitis.ca.
Donate In Memory, OR any charity of your choice.