Obituary of Marilyn Catherine Ross

December 1, 1941 – August 22, 2018

It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the passing of Marilyn, beloved matriarch of our motley clan.

Marilyn was born in Castor Alberta on December 1, 1941 to Luella and James (Jim) Drever. Her early years were happily spent on the farm with Blackie the horse, Sunday picnics and cousins and cows all around. The family moved into town to make the school commute less arduous. Marilyn had a self- professed happy childhood, sandwiched between sister Mona and brother Dale, later followed by Kent. She was involved with CGIT, piano lessons, and, later on, a fairly active social life as witnessed by the several male class rings still in her jewelry box.

Marilyn traveled to Red Deer for summer school where she met Al, who was also there upgrading for university. The stories they tell of this era are full of youthful hijinks. Marilyn received her probationary teaching degree in 1961 and did her student teaching not far from home, in Brownfield. In 1962 Marilyn pulled up her central Alberta roots and came to the Peace Country to continue her teaching career at the Blueberry Creek School and her relationship with a certain Mr. Ross. Marilyn often admitted that she had a weak spot for those kids others may have labeled as troublemakers. She would prefer 'piss and vinegar' over 'wanna-be teacher's pet', any day.

Al and Marilyn were married in July of 1962, and their first son, Warren, was born in 1964, followed closely by son Bradley in 1965. Marilyn taught for a bit in Spirit River but ultimately gave up teaching to raise her children. Brad and Warren spent weeks at a time at Moonshine Lake with Marilyn, her girlfriends and their combined 13+ children. In 1976, daughter, Stacy, completed the family.  In the late 70's, a shared family cabin near Invermere entered the lazy summer plans and Marilyn and Stacy would drive down through Radium, with Al flying down to join them for a few days when he could get away. Marilyn was heavily involved in her kid’s activities, Cubs, Hockey, Figure Skating etc.

Marilyn developed into an avid curler and made many of her dearest, lifelong, friends 'bonspieling' early in her married life. 'Bonspieling' often involved some pretty creative costume choices. Curling took her all over the Peace Country, up to Whitehorse and even a jaunt to provincial playdowns. The Kinsmen/Kinette organization was also near and dear to her heart and she was part of the original fundraising for the community pool and KinPark. She received the Elspeth Rogers Kinette Life Membership award in 1985. Marilyn was a dangerous combination of night owl and card-shark, she and her friends would play scrabble and canasta until the dawn broke. When the golf bug bit Marilyn, it bit her hard and she helped with lady’s league for years. Weekend tournaments saw her gallivanting again, often in the little Triple E motorhome with the youngest in tow. Marilyn won several Peace Country Opens. Anyone that ever golfed with Marilyn also knew that she enjoyed collecting lost balls almost as much as the game itself.

In 1990, with the kids all away from home, Marilyn joined Al at Dave Ross Equipment, working in accounts. She loved numbers and took great pride in her work, as did Al. She often lamented that she should have taken accounting, but that career wasn't pushed for girls in her era. Nothing got past her. Marilyn worked by Al's side until 2012 when she retired.

One of Marilyn's favorite life chapters started in 1994 when she became a grandmother. Four grandsons, followed by 5 granddaughters over a 20-year span, all living just minutes away. There were always Christmas concerts, skating carnivals, ball games, dance recitals and HOCKEY! Hockey kept Al and Marilyn busy driving from town to town to catch the maximum amount of games in a day. Grandma was a supplier of cookies, and the #1 mender of favorite jeans and sports gear. Grandma also enjoyed yardwork and gardening with her grandkids. Whatever the child's passion, she got behind it.

Al and Marilyn were fortunate enough to travel throughout their married life and later became part-time snowbirds, disappearing to Palm Desert from January to March. They had many friends with them in their little enclave, many from back home. The golfing was good, but the best stories seem to involve exploring and visiting with their partners-in-crime!

In the last few years, fighting illness, Marilyn, chauffeured by Al, likely travelled down most of the rural roads in the Central Peace. It was nothing for them to disappear for a 'crop tour' and reappear 6 hours later. Marilyn's wish to see the 2018 Harvest was partially realized as the pea crop was off before she passed away---- a feisty battle with lung cancer.

Marilyn is survived by her husband of 56 years, Al, children Warren (Goldie), Brad (Everdien), and Stacy (Matthew) Packard. Grandchildren Spencer, Bailey, Noah, Taitt, Tessa, Dayle, Catherine, Charlie and Maeve. Also left to mourn her passing is brother Kent (Trudy) Drever, nieces and nephews and many dear friends who supported her through life and now, through death

Marilyn was predeceased by her parents, younger brother, Dale (Darlene, l.) Drever and older sister Mona (Jack, l.) McManus, as well as granddaughter Thea, born still.

Memorial donations may be made to the Central Peace Health Complex, Palliative Care Unit, 5010 45 Avenue, spirit River, AB T0H 3G0

A Celebration of Life for Marilyn was held on Monday, August 27, 2018 at 11:00 AM at the Centennial Hall in Spirit River.

Care entrusted to Bear Creek Funeral Home 780-830-7742 www.bearcreekfuneral.com