Mrs Lucille Mary Mercer Muir

Lucille Mary Muir, Lou, Mom, Grandma, was born on October 12, 1927 in Winnipeg Manitoba and passed away peacefully on Tuesday morning May 26, 2009 at Langley Memorial Hospital surrounded by her family. She was happy to be able to spend her last months at her home in the care of her daughters and accepting friends and family visitors, with only her final 24 hours in hospital.

An only child for Lillian and Ernie Mercer, one would think she might be raised a little on the spoiled side. Grandpa made sure that never happened and her upbringing proved that she was raised with the discipline and love necessary to raise a large and loving family. Little did her parents know that when Lucille reached grade three she had already met the man she would raise seven children with and spend all her married life beside.

Mom and Dad, (Jim too many of you,) married on April 1, 1946. We often wonder about the date they chose, April Fool’s Day. One can only assume it was another way for Mom and Dad to share their like-minded sense of humor.

Mom and Dad started their large family with the arrival of Sharron, the oldest one who can perform miracles with rags. Jim then came and is blessed with the knowledge of a seasoned wine maker, Adele was next, Scott, our very own bushman, Chris the calm one, Daphne, the pretty one and Bob her baby.

Now one would think that any woman would have her hands full enough with a pack like this. Seven children a husband and it was the fifties. Her family went on to raise families of their own and Mom never forgot a birthday, and even if the names sometimes became confused, she always had her family in mind. Mom will be lovingly remembered by her children: Sharron (Richard) Calling Lake AB, Jim (Marlene) Langley BC, Adele (Barrie) Edmonton AB, Scott (Heather) Quesnel BC, Chris (Ruth) Cochrane AB, Daphne (Ted) Gibbons AB, and Bob (Cheryl) Prince George BC. Gramma will be missed by 17 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews and dearest sister-friend Joyce.

For Mom there was always time for what was important, maybe not enough money but when she put her mind to it she could eventually make anything work out well.

Sharron recalls: Christmas’s with a large family always has its challenges, and Mom’s strategy was to provide each of the family with the Christmas Wish Book. All the children waited anxiously for the Wish Book to appear and their chance to select their three prioritized choices for Christmas gifts. A Christmas didn't go by when we did not get at least our most wished for gift, and often enjoyed getting several of our listed choices off the list.

She was the ultimate time management professional and managed to make numerous friends, as you can see here today; outdoor hobbies, activities and working all were important areas of her very active life.

She made friends through Girl Guides (where she unknowingly met her future first daughter in law, Marlene as a Brownie), Bowling with the Happy Gang, Scuba Diving in her earlier years of marriage, Golfing, R.V.’ing, fishing in the later years and even more with crafts, parties and social activities in the golden years of her life.

She held numerous jobs from berry picking, nut gathering, mink skinning and finally Potters Distilleries for 27 years. She worked hard and steady from the time Bob was four until all her children were married and off raising families of their own. She retired with the joy of spending many quality moments in the boat with family and friends.

Chris remembers: Mom was always good in humor. I remember a trip to an interior lake when Mom and Dad were camping. They had a tent pitched off to the side of the motor-home as they were never sure how many of us kids would just show up. As fate had it I did. Mom was blowing up this air mattress and Dad was sitting in a chair beside her. Every time she would stop, Dad would let out a hissing sound and Mom was convinced that the mattress was leaking. This went on for a half hour until she caught Dad. He laughed so hard he damn near fell off his chair!

Another time we were home at our house at 35A. I had bought some Christmas lights for the house and she was reading the box. She disappeared into the kitchen for a while and then came back with a tape measure. She pulled the tape out to the 25 inch mark and looked at me in astonishment and total confusion? She looks at me, with the tape measure still pulled to the 25 inch mark and says “25 feet"? They have to be longer than this??” I looked at her in wonderment??? Not really sure who got suckered on that one.

As a son who was fortunate enough to have two loving parents, I have often wondered what they would have to go through trying to raise me right and proper. Lucky enough to have 6 siblings that helped me to "grow up", I was fortunate to be part of this incredible journey. I have lost two of my best and dearest friends in the past 18 months. Now they are together again, starting another journey of life. Mom, we love you and miss you already. Give Dad a kiss for us and have a great eternity.

Scott: I remember the Sunday dinner’s complete with fresh bun’s, the fish and crab dinners with long weekends after Scuba diving. Mom taught me to enjoy cooking. The caring and love to all your children and their families. You always like t know how our friends were doing and many became your life long friends. I remember the more recent times – how you (Mom) always said “you remember the time” and many stories of good times were again remembered. There will be many things I do every day that will remind me of you forever. I always thought the phrase “God speed” meant love, caring, compassion and everything good in people. I do know now, its gotten a bit faster with you there.

Mom met the challenges of her diagnosis with cancer with courage and a will to beat the odds. Her survival for almost four years from one of the most aggressive cancers, attests to her conviction, strong character and love of live.

Bob: I remember coming home for Christmas or holidays and I couldn't’t be in the door for more than 5 minutes and Mom would be trying to feed me. I will miss the great dinners from home and all the stories that went along with being home. Mom was always working in the garden and I think she will have the nicest flower bed in heaven.

I will miss the fishing trips we use to go on every year and meet Mom and Dad where ever they may be. Dad would always show us up by putting on a Fly for Mom the green Carrie and she would have a fish on within minutes. I know the next time I go fishing on Teela Two it will be a sad day for me but I do know that Mom and Dad will be looking down on me saying don’t use worms.

Mom taught me that family is the most important thing in life and the years that Mom and Dad spent together were the best years anyone could ever dream of having. I talked to my Grandson Dominick a few days ago and told him that Great Grandma had passed away and he said that he was sad for me. Before I said goodbye to him he said that it would be OK as your Mom is never gone as she is in you heart. I love you Mom and you will be in my heart forever.

In 2005 Mom was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer and started a treatment cycle that fall. She made the absolute most of the good times and suffered stoically through the bad times. She was always there for Dad, and Dad was always there for her even through struggles with his own health. Married for 61 years and friends for many more – Mom and Dad were inseparable through their years of marriage. They enjoyed many extended RV trips to isolated mountain lakes and made Interior BC their summer home for many years. Unable to travel far over their last 3 years together they continued to enjoy their life together at home in Pine Ridge Park. When she lost Dad, Mom had her large family, her best sister-friend Joyce, and friends in the park to turn to and she managed to make use of some remaining periods of good health to spend time with her daughters in Alberta during the summer and again at Christmas, where two of her boys also joined in with the visits.

Last summer, at Calling Lake, she was once again enjoying one of her favourite past-times - out in the boat with fishing rod in hand pulling in the big monster Pike and Walleye.

As her time drew near, Mom was always forward looking. She had faith that Dad was waiting for her, had picked out a favourite fishing hole next to a great golf course and that her Mom and Dad would again be there to enjoy evening Cocktails. She went peacefully with that faith in her heart, and we know she has taken the road to that place that she and dad traveled in their hearts. Good fishing Mom.

Your Family

Arrangements under the direction of Henderson's Langley Funeral Home in Langley, BC.