Eleanor Ruth McGinnis of Quesnel, BC passed away on December 26, 2006 in Fort St. John, BC. A service for Eleanor was held on December 30 at Barlow Creek Hall in Quesnel with Bob Wolfe officiating. Cremation preceded the service. Pallbearers were Travis Pickett, Ryan McGinnis, Bradley McGinnis, Bretton McGinnis, Darryl McGinnis and Trevor Pickett.
The eulogy was delivered by grandson Ryan McGinnis and a special reading was done by niece Eloise Perkull. The hymn ‘In the Garden’ was sung by daughter Betty Marshall and niece Kathy Thorbergson.
Eleanor was born in Murdale, B.C. on November 10, 1939 and was the youngest of nine children. Her parents were George and Elzora Nielsen.
She attended elementary school at both the Murdale School and the Crystal Springs School. She attended high school in Dawson Creek. She and her sister Carol went up to Toad River (Mile 422) of the Alaska Highway to work, when Eleanor was around 15.
One June 15, 1957 she married George McGinnis in Fort St. John and they had five children, Clint, Verna, Betty, Neil and Garnet. After she married, the family spent some winters at Racing River and their summers back on the farm. Eleanor did a lot of the farming as George worked out in camp.
Eleanor and her family moved to Quesnel on Friday, August 13, 1971. It was there that she started tree planting and eventually started work at West Fraser in Reforestation.
Eleanor, George and the family spent a lot of time going to gymkhanas and rodeos.
Playing cards with friends and going to dances was also an important part of their lives. Their house was always full of family and friends.
Eleanor had a great love for her family, her kids and grandchildren meant everything to her. She was a wonderful mom and grandmother. There was nothing in the world that she wouldn’t do for her kids and they felt the same way toward her. You could always count on her when times were tough and enjoy all the good times with her as well. She enjoyed dancing and music in general. She was very generous, hardworking and a very loyal friend. There was never a job too big or too small, her motto was ‘gitter done!’
In September 2006, Eleanor moved back up north as her health was failing and that is where most of her family lives. She enjoyed that time as it allowed her to spend quality time with her family, taking in oldest grandson Travis’ wedding and Clint and Joanne’s 25th anniversary party.
After a long and very courageous battle with cancer Eleanor passed away peacefully on the 26th of December in the Fort St. John Hospital.
She will be sadly missed by all of her family and many friends.
Eleanor is survived by her son Clint & Joanne McGinnis, daughters Verna & Bob Pickett, Betty & Erwin Marshall, sons Neil McGinnis, Garnet & Norma McGinnis, grandchildren Travis & Nicole Pickett, Ryan McGinnis, Bradley McGinnis, Bretton McGinnis, Darryl McGinnis, great grandson Trevor Pickett, sister Eloise Readman.
Eleanor was predeceased by her husband George.