Marilyn Luella Burt

Marilyn was born in Winnipeg on June 21, 1934, the only child of Joseph Kellaway (J.K.) May and Luella May (née McRae). J.K. was a local businessman, owning and running the Scott-Bathgate wholesale food business. Luella was the daughter of John McRae, Winnipeg’s chief of police. Luella graduated in the class of 1919 at University of Manitoba and became a homemaker. Unfortunately, she passed away when Marilyn was only 10 years old. Marilyn was forced to become relatively independent from an early age, and it must have strengthened the bond with her father.

Marilyn graduated from Riverbend School in 1950 and the University of Manitoba with a BA in 1954. In both places, she made life-long friends, including through Pi Beta Phi. At U of M, she played field hockey and swam, and spent her free time on campus playing hearts.

Her university yearbook notes that “Her only future plans are to earn enough money to travel”. She had caught the travel bug early, with her father, who himself was keen to see and learn from the world at large. She had travelled to 5 continents and twice around the world by the time she was 25, all by ship, as J.K. wouldn’t fly. Marilyn was often the youngest passenger on board, and became a keen photographer on these trips.

After graduating, she parlayed this experience into becoming a photographer for and associate editor of the Free Press Weekly magazine. One of the highlights was covering the royal visit of Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret (1959).

In 1960, Marilyn married James (Jim) Burt, whom she’d first met on a blind date while he was a pilot in the Air Force. Jim accepted an offer to work at Scott-Bathgate, an offer made on the condition that he never fly a plane again. Meantime, notwithstanding her travel experience, Marilyn’s first time on a plane was for their honeymoon.

Marilyn became a homemaker, and she and Jim raised two sons, Darrell and Austin. Whether on trips or at events, Marilyn relished the role of family photographer. She and Jim continued to travel extensively. She was a game participant on family ski holidays, though much more comfortable in the summer at the lake, where she would often go for long swims. She traded hearts for bridge, and played with both Jim and her like-minded friends.

From an early age, Marilyn loved her cars, and all through her life she had a convertible sports car, save for the child-rearing years, when she decided she needed to be sensible. She also was an enthusiastic sports fan, holding season tickets to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for over 50 years, first going as a teenager with her father when they played at Osborne Street Stadium. That fandom expanded to include the Jets from their first season and for some 45 years.

Marilyn was an avid reader, and, after the children were grown, she enrolled in continuing education in classes as varied as byzantine history, Canadian art, and computers. In the community, she volunteered on the boards of St John’s Ravenscourt School, Women’s Canadian Club, Women’s Musical Club, and Border Crossings. She and Jim were keen supporters of Winnipeg arts and local charities.

Marilyn was loving and dutiful, modest to the point of self-deprecating, yet with a quiet, easy authority. She never lost her temper, or her inner child. Alas, about seven years ago, Marilyn started developing the first signs of dementia, whose cruel progression robbed her first of her speech, and eventually, in 2021, she had to move to a care home.

Left to mourn her passing are sons Darrell (Sheila) and Austin (Vasso), grandchildren Andrew, Heather and Daphne, and stepgrandson Matthew (Allison) and their children (Patrick and Abigail). Jim and Marilyn were partners and best friends for 64 years before Jim passed away in March of 2024.

Special thanks to Michele, Joyce, Wanda, Charlene, Kasthy, Helen and all the other caregivers, including staff at the Charleswood and Riverview, for all their support through the years.

Cremation has taken place with internment at Brookside Cemetery.