STEVENSON, MYRTLE “MERT” FRANCES PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY DECEMBER 2, 1995 AT VULCAN, ALBERTA AT THE AGE OF 92 YEARS.
MERT WAS BORN NOVEMBER 17, 1902 AT LEWISTON, IDAHO. SHE CAME TO CLARESHOLM IN 1903. SHE AND HER BROTHER MERLE WERE AMONG THE FIRST STUDENTS TO ATTEND NORTHERN LIGHT SCHOOL, SOUTHWEST OF CLARESHOLM FOLLOWING THE PASSING OF HER PARENTS ALEXANDER AND FRANCES STEVENSON. MERT CONTINUED TO FARM WITH HER BROTHERS UNTIL 1955. SHE MOVED T0 BINDLOSS TO LIVE WITH HER SISTER EDITH BARNES TO HELP HER WITH HER FAMILY. IN 1968 SHE MOVED BACK TO CLARESHOLM, SOLD HER FARM AT WOODHOUSE AND BUILT HER OWN HOME IN 1971. IN I978 WHEN HER SISTER AND HUSBAND MOVED TO VULCAN SHE MOVED INTO THE PORCUPINE LODGE IN CLARESHOLM AFTER A SHORT TIME SHE MOVED TO VULCAN TO BE WITH HER SISTER AGAIN AND MOVED INTO THE PETER DAWSON LODGE IN 1980. THE FOLLOWING YEAR INTO EXTENDICARE, LATER TO CARMANGAY AUXILIARY HOSPITAL. SHE RETURNED TO THE VULCAN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE TWO MONTHS AGO WHERE SHE HAS BEEN IN THE LONG TERM UNIT SINCE.
MERT, AS SHE CALLED HERSELF, LOVED BEING ABLE TO HELP HER FAMILY. SHE WAS WITH HER SISTER EDITH TO HELP RAISE HER CHILD FROM THE AGE OF TWO YEARS. SHE WOULD MOVE IN WITH HER SISTERS AND HELP FOR A TIME THEN MOVE BACK LATER. SHE NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT ANYTHING. IT WAS AS IF HER MISSION IN LIFE WAS TO BE OF SERVICE TO HER FAMILY AND SHE WAS WILLING TO COOK MEALS BUT SHE MOSTLY LIKED TO CLEAN AND BAKE. SHE COULD BUILD FENCE OR OPERATE MACHINERY. SHE ALSO ENJOYED CROCHETING AND SEWING, ESPECIALLY FOR HER NIECES AND NEPHEWS COSTUMES OR UNIFORMS, SHE THOUGHT THE WORLD OF THEM. MERT ALSO ENJOYED ATTENDING LIVESTOCK SHOWS ESPECIALLY TO SEE THE HEAVY DRAFT HORSES. SHE WAS A LIFE MEMBER OF THE FOOTHILL REBEKAH LODGE #105, CLARESHOLM.
MERT IS SURVIVED BY TWO NEPHEWS RON (JOYCE) BARNES, THEIR CHILDREN JIM (KAREN) AND RHONDA (DARCY) OF VULCAN AND FRANK PALMER OF VANCOUVER, A NIECE MERLE FELLOWS AND HER CHILDREN ANDREA AND ARLETA OF CRANBROOK AND A BROTHER-IN-LAW FRANK PALMER.
SHE WAS PREDECEASED BY HER PARENTS, TWO BROTHERS CLAUDE AND MERLE, TWO SISTERS MARGARET PALMER, EDITH BARNES, BOTHER-IN-LAW BILL BARNES AND A COUSIN JOHN STEVENSON.
FUNERAL SERVICE WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 6, 1995 AT 1 P.M AT CLARESHOLM UNITED CHURCH WITH REV. BLAIR WHYTE OFFICIATING.
INTERMENT IN THE FAMILY PLOT CLARESHOLM CEMETERY.
CASKET BEARERS RON BARNES, JOYCE BARNES, JIM BARNES, DARCY DUGDALE, KAREN BARNES AND RHONDA BARNES.
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, FRIENDS ARE ASKED TO MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE VULCAN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE, LONGTERM CARE UNIT, BOX 299, VULCAN T0L 2B0.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS IN CARE OF VULCAN FUNERAL HOME, DIRECTORS. TELEPHONE 485-2633.