Gayleen Muriel Owens

Gayleen was predeceased by her husband Joseph in 2013; her parents Clark in1994 and Olive in 2000; her brother Donald in 2022, (Phyllis); and her brother Ross in 2024, (Helen).

She leaves to mourn, her son Floyd Fergusson (Nora, granddaughters Dana (Tyler, and their children); Holly (Brad, and their children); Hayley (and her child); grandson Mark; her daughter Verna Palmer (Micheal, granddaughter Robin); her son Murray Fergusson (Cindy, granddaughters Ashlee (Mike), Chelsea, (Phil and their children); her son Harvey Fergusson (Linda, granddaughter Patti Lamusse and children; grandson Donnie Lamusse); her husband Joe’s daughters Beverly Owens-Poffenroth, (Wayne); Joanne, (Bernard Larocque); Cheryl, (Rick Trsek).

Times were tough in the 1930’s and a lot of folks lost their home to taxes. Gayleen’s parents were one of the lucky folks. They worked hard to make enough money to buy the Strong homestead, with the help of her mother’s parent.

Gayleen’s parent lived separately for a time, sharing their time with farms and households that needed help. Clark worked for other farms and Olive, who was a practical nurse worked as a homemakers’ helper when needed. It was a difficult time; Donald was in the care of an aunt part time, while Gayleen, a baby, stayed with her mother. It was common in the difficult days of the 1930s for families to work apart for a period.

Gayleen’s parents acquired the Strong Homestead, and their life of farming continued. The children attended school and did their chores. They spent their leisure time in the town of Rocanville visiting with family and friends. Gayleen loved visiting and riding her horse, Bessie. Life was good.

Gayleen went to Prosperity school in the country before moving to Rocanville to attend Rocanville School. That meant leaving her country home to stay with her Grandmother Aida Christian and her Aunt Rachal Christian. She loved living with them. She felt safe and happy.

Gayleen married very young, just past her 16th birthday. She married Ross Fergusson and lived in Rocanville, Saskatchewan.

She had her first child Floyd and two years later her second child Verna. Four years later along came Murray her third child. While being a stay-at-home Mother for the first few years she then, with the assistance of her parents, helped her husband Ross, buy a bakery from a local fellow in Rocanville.

Gayleen learned a lot about running a bakery and took it upon herself to ensure the towns people were kept supplied with bread and buns, along with other baked goods.

Times were tough and soon they decided to move to British Columbia. There, Ross began working for the Fraser River Lumber Mill. He worked hard grading, cutting and marking lumber.

Then along came Gayleen’s fourth child Harvey. They were living in a rental home in New Westminster. It wasn’t the best home they had been living in, but it would do. Soon they moved to a lovely area near the ocean in Richmond. They rented a quaint little home near schools in the town of Steveston.

Gayleen decided to find a job close by while the children attended school. She worked in the Steveston Fish Cannery in prepared products. She often gave public servants a tour of the premise along with providing details on how the jobs were done.

After several years in Steveston they bought a stately old home, on Cambie road in Richmond. It had an acre of land which was used for growing vegetables and fruit. There was pear, apple and two types of cherry trees, along with strawberries and raspberries. The garden was large with every kind of vegetable that would grow in a rainy province. Everything was canned.

She continued to work, but it was soon time to retire. Ross retired to Rocanville and Gayleen remained in Richmond.

After moving into her apartment Gayleen met and began life anew with her husband, Joe Owens. Together they bought and settled into a new home. Gayleen was happier than she had ever been. They both loved to dance and attended many functions associated with the Richmond Municipality that Joe worked for. Soon they both retired.

During their retirement they travelled extensively in North America and Europe. They camped in places like Banff and Lake Louise with their motorhome. Both learned how to weave baskets from pine needles. The baskets were so well done, one wouldn’t have known they weren’t professional weavers.

They joined the Richmond Seniors Center and often dressed up for events that would entertain children at Christmas, Easter, and Valentines.

Joe was a craftsman with woodworking skills. He created tables, clocks, fretsaw designs along with many other woodcraft designs for the walls in their home.

Gayleen was also a crafter. She was able to create whatever current fad of wall decor or tabletop decor that was popular at the time.

She had a knack for creating beautifully crafted jewelry in silver and gold. She was even able to create jewelry that looked like glass but was actually glazed paper. They were unique and amazingly beautiful.

Gayleen took to the crafts of the time and was good at it. She sold most of her crafts and jewelry at event centers or craft events.

Gayleen and Joe had a happy 31 years together. Gayleen often said she couldn’t believe her luck.

After Joe’s passing, Gayleen moved to Independent Living. A lovely suite in “Hallmark on the Lake”. It was a beautiful building inside and out, situated on a small lake. Her suite was perfect. It was decorated with all her favourite things, created or kept, over the years. The patio faced lovely bushes and trees as well as the lake.

Unfortunately, this past Spring was the sunset of Gayleen’s life. She was 92 when she passed peacefully in the care of wonderfully compassionate folks at Worthington Cottage in Abbotsford.

Gayleen was a spiritual person and prayed often. Her faith enabled her to go on after Joe’s passing. She had her moments as we all do but she lived each day with faith in her master and looked upon life with quiet steady eyes.

Gayleen (Strong) Owens passed away June 7th, 2025.

This day is remembered

And quietly kept.

No words are needed,

We will never forget.

Silent thoughts, tears unseen.

Wishing your absence

Was only a dream.

Today, tomorrow, our

whole lives through

We will always love and remember you.

Love and missing you beyond belief,

Your Family