Olive Elsie Evans Wilson

March 2, 1917 – August 2, 2011

Born March 2, 1917 in Fort Pitt, Saskatchewan. She was the first of 5 daughters born to David & Mary EVANS.

Olive was predeceased by her loving husband of 53 years, Max (March 1993), three grandchildren: Dylan (1994), Max (2005) and Coral (2007) and three sisters, Ellen Amelia Crocker “Nellie” (Oct. 1985), Ruby Irene Hiltz (June 2011) and Ethel Jean Snow (July 2011).

She will be dearly missed by her children: David (Jewel) Wilson, John (Carole) Wilson, Donna (Doug) Campbell, Judy (Joe) Smith, Doreen Moore (Dale Miller), Jim (Freeda) Wilson, and Don (Darla) Wilson, her many grandchildren and great grandchildren as well as her one remaining sister Gertie Simmons of Calgary and many nieces and nephews from across the country.

Olive always said she had a blessed life. Born in Fort Pitt, Saskatchewan to loving parents who had moved there from Newfoundland to homestead. Her father was fond of saying Olive was as good a helper and worker on the farm as any son could have been – she was so proud of that.

At the age of 12 the family sold their farm and although her father had never driven before, bought a motor car and drove back east to help with ailing parents in Halifax – she had fond memories of that trip in what sounds pretty much like a motorized wagon – no windows, just canvas blinds that could be secured to keep dust and rain out when needed.

Olive met Max when they both worked at the Robert Simpson Eastern Company in Halifax – he liked to say that as soon as he saw her he knew she was the one for him! Even tho she was going with another young man at the time, he was not deterred and after much flirtation, they married in 1939 just after he’d joined the army.

They eventually had 7 children which only added a new dimension to their adventurous spirits. With a VW van and two tents they managed to make the best of their frequent camping trips, even camping across Canada from Halifax to Calgary in 1960 when Max received an army transfer – definitely a trip to remember!

The family enjoyed 3 years in Calgary before another transfer moved them to Oromocto, New Brunswick – another camping adventure across the country – this time with a spanking new tent trailer!

A final military posting precipitated yet another cross-Canada trip in 1966 from Oromocto, New Brunswick to Calgary,Alberta, but by now several of the offspring had flown from the nest. In 1972 they moved to Kelowna after Max’s retirement from army life. Here Max worked for a time at Sears while Olive kept the home fires burning. Then they took over Kelowna Vacuum Rebuilders and enjoyed working together at this new adventure for several years. After selling the business, they continued to enjoy camping and spent many enjoyable winters in the sun in Arizona as well as golfing back here in the Okanagan.

Olive was a loving caregiver to Max in his battle with prostate cancer until his passing in 1993. He told her he wanted her to “keep being my go-go girl” so Olive soldiered on after his passing and found great pleasure in her involvement with the Westbank Seniors’ Association, taking on numerous roles and making many friends along the way.

We now say goodbye to our special angel and would like to say thank you to Dr. Sorestad and the many wonderful caregivers at Brookhaven who were instrumental in making our Mom’s transition peaceful and dignified – we are most grateful.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday August 19, 2011 at Westbank United Church, 3672 Brown Road, Westbank, BC.

Arrangements under the direction of Valleyview Funeral Home, Kelowna, BC. 250-765-3147