Alma Grace Beck

-Francis Gray

ALMA GRACE BECK (nee HARVEY) On September 25, 2021, at the age of 94, Alma passed away peacefully in Vancouver, B.C. She was the beloved wife of Ray, who predeceased her in 2017, and devoted, loving mother of five children: Laura, Mary (Langley Evans), Ruth, Judi (Dave Small) and John (Kathy Beck). Alma was born in Kamloops B.C. on April 4, 1927, to the late Mildred Sophia Harvey and Fred Adams Harvey. Alma’s brother Bruce Frederick, he passed in 1973. Also left to remember her are Alma’s grandchildren Shae (Kye), Jarran, Shannon (Brian), Tristan (Johannie), Oriane, Lucas, Hilary (Corey) and Michael, and great-grandchildren Arlen, Lily, Nora, Brodie, and Logan.

Alma often told treasured stories of her wonderful childhood in Revelstoke where she hiked, biked, swam and enjoyed the simplicities of life. Alma graduated from the University of British Columbia in Home Economics, and she was a dietician and interned at the Toronto General Hospital from 1949 to 1950.

While in Toronto, Alma met Ray on a “blind date”. They married on August 23, 1952. Soon after they sailed on the RMS Queen Elizabeth to live in England for 2 years. While Ray completed his diploma at the Imperial College of Engineering, Alma worked at the Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. She often spoke of the enjoyable time there. Alma and Ray had wonderful adventures touring the UK and Europe, in their Mini-Cooper. Being spectators at Queen Elizabeth’s coronation was a highlight Alma often recounted.

Their return to Canada saw them settle initially in Port Credit, Ontario. After a few years, Alma and Ray moved to Montreal, raising their family in Glenmont on the outskirts of Town of Mount Royal. In T M R, Alma was active in the United Church, the Curling Club and in many of the “Town’s” other recreational activities. Alma was fortunate to be surrounded by a community of wonderful neighbourhood friends. At the summer cottage on Lake McCaskill, “Up North” she loved bonfires, berry picking, the raft, the water and marshmallows. Her favorite family vacations were spent in Maine where Alma loved the seafood, beach picnics and the ocean waves.

Alma and Ray lived their retired years in Vancouver enjoying time with family and friends, travels, pitch and putt golf, aquafit and the community at Brock House Society. They spent their latter year’s at the Windermere Care Centre, and the Beck family is immensely grateful to staff for their wonderful care of Alma and Ray.

The family will honour Alma’s life privately. In celebration of her life, the family would welcome donations made to the BC Cancer Foundation, as Alma was a cancer survivor or to the Salvation Army, her favorite charity because of the support they gave her father who served in WWI.