Florence Blakley

It is with great sadness that the family of Florence Glenna (Peach) Blakley inform friends and family of her passing October 1, 2020. She died peacefully at Moose Mountain Lodge in Carlyle, Sask., just after lunch. Her daughter was beside her as she slipped away.

Mom was born June 17, 1926 to Charles and Constance (Campbell) Peach of Sintaluta, Sask. The only daughter in a family with 3 sons, she was a tomboy, learning skills from both her parents and brothers. She learned to hunt gophers in the dirty 30’s for the bounty and climb trees for magpie and crow eggs. The family lived on a farm south of town about 7 miles from town. They were good farmers and managed to always have enough for the family to live on. When mom was 9 she became very ill with a burst appendix and was in Wolseley Hospital under the care of Dr. Isman. It was here she began her dream of becoming a nurse. She had wanted to be a teacher at one time. After a 3 month recovery period she passed her grade at school, Durham School, where she and her brothers got their education. It was only a couple of miles away.

In 1938, misfortune struck when Charles, her dad, had a massive heart attack while digging a dugout and passed away. It was a very sad time for them. Somehow they managed to survive that with the help of neighbours and friends who were hired or volunteered to help with seeding and harvesting the fields.

Mom and her brothers took their high school education in Sintaluta and it was there she met many fine young men. One in particular decided to keep her to himself, Ivan Blakley, also of Sintaluta. His family ran a dairy farm a mile south of town. When mom graduated in 1945 she applied for nurses training at Regina General Hospital and was proud to be accepted. This didn’t slow the relationship down at all. Back then a 60 mile distance was a long distance relationship. But they corresponded regularly by mail and Ivan would go to the city to see his girl or she would come home for a weekend of two. I have 500 letters they wrote to each other in a 3 year period.

Mom graduated in 1948 and accepted Ivan’s proposal of marriage. They were wed on November 6, 1948, dad’s 22nd birthday. He told all of the next generation to wait until then to get married. He and mom had a happy marriage for almost 70 years when he passed in 2018. Mom was in the nursing home and it was the longest period they had been apart.

Mom and dad enjoyed dancing, skating, being part of the community and were involved in many organizations over the years. She also loved to garden.

A funeral service was held in St. Andrew’s United Church, Indian Head, SK on Monday, October 5, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor John Sellwood officiating. Interment in Indian Head Cemetery.

If friends so desire, donations may be made to the Indian Head & District Hospital Foundation, Box 1547, Indian Head, SK S0G 2K0 or to a charity of your choice.