Catherine (Cathie) Cox

Cathie was born in Glasgow Scotland on August 17, 1920 to Donald and Anne Purdie the oldest of nine children and passed away peacefully on September 12, 2020.

She was predeceased by her parents Donald and Annie, parents-in-law William and Sarah, husband John, stillborn son Donald William, siblings Mary, Grace, Donald, and Nan, brothers-in-law Ron, John, Charlie (Edna), sisters-in-law Mary Purdie, Sarah (Archie), Mary (Ted) Tuck and great-great grandson Damon.

Survived by son Charles Stephen (Maggie), sisters and brothers Winnie, James, Jack (Susan) and Margaret (Jim), step-grandchildren Wendy (Jamie), Curtis, Kelly (Cindy) and Barry Crowley, eight great-grandchildren, ten great-great-grandchildren and one great-great-great-grandchild. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

This is only the beginning of this wonderful little lady that we are all so happy to be part of. Her involvements over the years are many. She held numerous positions in the United Church and as an executive member of presbytery as well as others that are too many to list at this time.

Cathie went to work at age 14 at McFarlane Langs biscuit factory. From there she went to the Cardowan Creameries in Scotland until 1941. At this time she joined the Women’s Timber Corps (known as lumberjills) section of the Women’s Land Army. This involved felling trees, removing branches and getting them ready to load the trucks. It was laborious work and the terrain was not “user friendly.” After the war was over she returned to work at the Cardowan Creameries. In 1948 she grew restless and decided to immigrate to Canada. She began a brief stint as a Nurse’s Aide at the Ontario Psychiatric Hospital, but decided to come to Sask. to visit relatives. While here she began work as a Nurse’s Aide at Grenfell Union Hospital, then moved on to Balcarres Union Hospital. While in Grenfell, she met John Cox. They were married on December 21, 1949. She worked as a helper in Grenfell Grill until first baby Donald William (stillborn) was born. She returned to work at Grenfell Union Hospital. She finally gave birth to a second son Charles Stephen on July 11, 1953. She began to do housework to help with expenses. In April 1963 she began part-time work as manager of Grenfell Credit Union. She left this position when the credit union went to full time hours.

She was asked if she would take on the cashier’s role at the Windsor Theatre, which of course she did. The following week, she was approached by Rev. Ron Sutton to work as part-time secretary at the United Church, and she did this for four years. She was also asked if she would fill in as Nurse’s Aide at the Pioneer Home. It was at this time that John had a heart attack passing away in 1977. She became involved with the Sask. Assoc. Of Human Rights (SAHR) and The Sask. Health Coalition, P.L.U.R.A and The Canadian Rights and Liberties Federation. She spent the last four or five decades of her life trying to make sure there was fairness for the “underdog” and she never gave up. In 1994 Cathie received an award from S.A.H.R. for her long standing as a human rights activist. One quote from this presentation says it all; “She has held many notable positions in various organizations, not the least of which was a position on our national board of directors for several years. She is well known and admired by many people at the national level from coast to coast”. She was an active member of The Intercultural Grandmothers until her passing.

In 2017 she moved in to Marian Chateau in Regina and thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie of the resident and staff playing cribbage, bingo, tile rummy and any other activities available.

We are so happy that she made her 100th birthday. Truly a life well spent.

A private family service was held in the Grenfell United Church, Grenfell, SK on Friday, September 18, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Hyun Heo officiating. Private family interment in the Grenfell Cemetery.