Margaret Elizabeth McDonald, “Betty”, 99, of Salmon Arm and recently of Williams Lake, died Saturday, February 2, 2013.
Betty was born to the late Williams Coglan Willis and Isabella Willis (Barber), September 30, 1913, in Vancouver. She attended Normal School and took her first teaching post at Buffalo Creek in 1936. Her next teaching assignment was at Lac La Hache and then at Big Lake where she boarded with the MacDonalds. She married the late Harold McDonald in 1941. They lived at The Coast during the war years and returned to The Cariboo in 1946. They raised four children Bob, Audrey, Carol and Marion and “adopted” the Shipley family. Bob and Heather McDonald live in Halifax, Audrey and Mark Deering live in Qualicum Beach, Carol MacLean lives in Sorrento, Marion Rogers passed away in June 2009, Harold Shipley passed away in March 2007 and Shirley Shipley lives in Edmonton. Betty is fondly remembered by 13 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and many, many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Betty was accustomed only to the conveniences of city life until “The Cariboo” countrified her. She adapted quickly and thoroughly to the rigors of wood stoves, naphtha-gas lighting and outdoors “plumbing”; driven by a feisty spirit and led by a buoyant sense of humour she conquered all.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 pm Thursday, February 7 in the River of Life Community Church, 2405 Centennial Drive, Blind Bay, BC (exit Fairway Hills Road between Sorrento and Salmon Arm).