Mary was born in Rodney, Ontario on May 3, 1914.
Mary became a resident of Quesnel with her parents and 14 brothers and sisters for the first time in 1921. She returned home to Quesnel in 2006.
Her careers were varied, from nursing in Wells, BC and La Jolla, California to being one of the first female truck drivers in the Cariboo. She also worked in the Chilicotin on a cattle ranch.
In order to raise her daughter by herself, she took up cooking in logging camps throughout the Cariboo so her daughter could be with her.
When her daughter had to go to school, she moved to Vernon and became a desk clerk and receptionist at the National Hotel. Following this, she was a cook for the Armed Forces based in Vernon, BC.
Mary was a member for the Eastern Star Branch #40 in Prince George, BC. She had been a member of the IOOF and held all the chairs in that organization while living in Vernon, BC. Mary also belonged to the Old Age Pensioners Society at the Golden Center.
Mom was very talented and artistic. Her interests included: painting, drawing, photo colorization, knitting, sewing, crocheting, ceramics, photography and too many more to list. She was an avid contributor to the Quesnel Fall Fair and over the past 80 years, only missed putting entries one or two years.
When times were tough and there was no work, rather than continue living in her car with her daughter, she built her own house in Clinton. There didn’t seem to be anything that Mary wouldn’t try and usually accomplish successfully.
Mary is survived by her daughter Mary Lynn (Marly) Rutherford, her granddaughter Crysta Serne and her grandson Cory Serne, her brothers Albert, John, George, Leroy, Ken, Rodney and Robert and sisters Vera Peever and Leone Curtis.
Thank you to Dr. Aziz, Dr. Katalinic and all the third floor nursing staff for your care and compassion during my mothers short illness.
There will be a memorial service held at 1:00 pm at Clayton’s Funeral Chapel on October 18th followed by a tea at Begbie’s, located in the Tower Inn. The service will be officiated by Mr. Ron Malmas. Donations can be made to the World Wildlife Federation and the Canadian Cancer Society.