WILLIAMS, MARY MYRTLE, WAS TAKEN SUDDENLY ON OCTOBER 21, 1992 AT ARROWWOOD, ALBERTA.
MYRTLE WAS BORN SEPTEMBER 15, 1925 AT VULCAN, ALBERTA. SHE MARRIED LEIGH WILLIAMS AND TOGETHER THEY HAD THREE CHILDREN – DONNA (JOHN) GRAHAM OF VULCAN, JACK (WENDY) WILLIAMS OF OKOTOKS AND CHERYL (DON) HARTWELL OF IRRICANA, SIX GRANDCHILDREN – ANN AND HER FIANCÉ COLIN LECLAIR OF CALGARY, BEN GRAHAM, DEAN AND DAVIE WILLIAMS AND TYLOR AND TYSON HARTWELL, A BROTHER-IN-LAW EDWARD AND MARGARET CAMERON OF ARROWWOOD.
MYRTLE WAS RAISED AT SHOULDICE. IN 1942, TWO YEARS AFTER THE DEATH OF HER FATHER, JOHN MCRAE, SHE AND HER MOTHER, CATHERINE BARRY MOVED TO ARROWWOOD WHERE HER MOTHER RAN A BOARDING HOUSE. SHE ATTENDED HIGH SCHOOL AT CLUNY. DURING HER “DORMITORY” DAYS, SHE MADE MANY FRIENDS THAT REMAINED WITH HER FOR LIFE. MYRTLE TEAMED UP WITH MARGIE WILLIAM$ AND WHILE MARGIE DROVE THE TRUCK, MYRTLE RAN THE TRACTOR AND COMBINE. THIS PROVES THERE WASN’T REALLY ANYTHING SHE WOULDN’T TACKLE.
SHE WAS A WILLING WORKER AND STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF THE ARROWWOOD UNITED CHURCH, AND THE ARROWWOOD UNITED CHURCH WOMEN SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE CHURCH IN 1953. A LOT OF PAINT, VARNISH AND SWEAT WENT IN TO THE CHURCH AND MYRTLE WAS ALWAYS IN THE CENTRE OF IT ALL. SHE WAS INVOLVED IN THE HOME AND SCHOOL ORGANIZATION AT BOTH THE REGIONAL AND COUNTY LEVELS. SHE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN ORGANIZING THE ARROWWOOD AGRICULTURAL SHORT CLASSES. HER COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF HER LIFE AND WAS SHOWN THROUGH HER COMMITMENT. SHE WAS ALWAYS WILLING TO LEND A HELPING HAND.
MYRTLE WAS MEMBER OF THE JUNIOR BRANCH OF THE UNITED FARMERS OF ALBERTA (U.F.A.) AND ATTENDED HER FIRST U.F.A CONVENTION IN 1956. ONE OF HER MOST MEMORABLE CONVENTIONS WAS IN DECEMBER OF 1969 WHEN UNIFARM WAS FORMED. SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE GOLDEYE FOUNDATION RECEIVED HER SUPPORT. MYRTLE WAS A LIFE MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED COUNTRY WOMEN OF THE WORLD AND ASSISTED WITH THE VANCOUVER CONFERENCE. SHE WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE ALBERTA WOMEN IN SUPPORT OF AGRICULTURE, NOMINATED FOR THE ALBERTA FARM WOMEN OF THE YEAR AWARD IN 1991, BECAUSE OF HER INVOLVEMENT WITH HER COMMUNITY AND AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS. HER NAME WAS RECENTLY SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION TO THE ALBERTA AGRICULTURAL HALL OF FAME.
MYRTLE WAS KNOWN AS THE WALKING ENCYCLOPEDIA. TO HER, HISTORY AND HERITAGE WERE IMPORTANT, AND IT WAS REFLECTED IN THE HOURS PUT INTO THE RESEARCHING OF THE ARROWWOOD STORY AND THE FURROWS OF TIME. SHE CHAIRED COMMITTEES, SPEARHEADED GROUPS AND MOST RECENTLY HELPED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARROWWOOD MUSEUM THROUGH THE ARROWWOOD RESTORATION SOCIETY.
MYRTLE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME OF THE ROAD DELIVERING BEST WISHES AND GIFTS TO OTHERS. ALTHOUGH SHE IS NO LONGER WITH US, WE CAN STILL SHARE THOSE THINGS SHE VALUED MO$T “THE JOYS OF SINCERE WORK, WORTHY ASPIRATION AND CONGENIAL FRIENDSHIP”.
FUNERAL SERVICE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1992 AT 3 P.M. AT ARROWWOOD COMMUNITY HALL WITH DON HOLMES L.M. OFFICIATING. INTERMENT ARROWWOOD CEMETERY.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, IF FRIENDS SO DESIRE, DONATIONS CAN BE MADE TO EITHER THE ALBERTA CANCER FOUNDATION, 1331 – 29 ST. N.W, CALGARY, T2N 9Z9 OR THE ARROWWOOD RESTORATION SOCIETY, ARROWWOOD, AB, T0L 0B0.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS IN CARE OF VULCAN FUNERAL HOME, 403-485-2633.