Margaret Stewart Orr

The following excerpts were taken from her memoirs – written by Peggy and Amber Kiddle:

I was born on a farm near Crossfield to Mary and James Millar. I was the fourth in a family of six children. I attended Rodney School, was very good at throwing the ball, participated in high jumping, hop step jump, hurdles and pole vaulting with Uncle George. In the early years we travelled by horse and buggy to neighbor’s houses. A fun thing we use to do in the spring was to catch gophers. We’d get the gopher tails and sell them for one cent at school. We also rob the magpie and crow nests and we’d take their feet or their eggs and we’d get one cent for them too. There was always work to be done on the farm, milking the cows, feed the pigs, bring the cattle home at night, helping with threshing and working in the garden but we still had fun. Riding the horses, teasing and riding the pigs, and getting together for picnics and barn dances.

Later when we moved over in the Rosebud coulee there were some pretty nice fellows at the dances, mostly around Carstairs. I met and married Wesley Orr on October 5, 1941 when the minister came to Crossfield. Our first room was in Calgary on 14th Ave. East. We paid $12 a month. Wes and I would travel by bicycle everywhere (I rode my bike into my 80’s). I worked cleaning homes for 25 cents for a whole day’s work. Our first child Shirley was born in 1943. In 1945 we bought our house in Albert Park and continued to add on to it over the years. Allan came along in 1945 and Bob in 1947.

I started working at the Globe Central taxi company which provided me with some adventure. I even was in the newspaper after a rain storm caused some major flooding with a Herald reporter in my taxi. After a number of years, I thought I should be staying at home with my elderly mom who was living with us. My next career was driving school bus.

Family life was very busy. When our kids were young, we had a goat, milking cow and a horse. Wes and I loved to travel across Canada by car or train, numerous trips to the US to Disneyland, or shopping when our dollar was worth more. Camping with the family was on top of our to do list. I camped every year up until I was 104 yrs. old. One of my favorite camping spots was camping at Mara Lake. I swam across the lake twice. Wes was an avid hunter so there was always meat to process or Fish and Game meetings. We had many house parties; any excuse was good for us. We joined a square dance group called the “Alamos”. We loved to play bingo and won a car at a Shriner’s bingo. We were very interested in politics even before we were married as my parents were staunch members of Social Credit and we started a Social Credit women’s auxiliary which ran for over 10 years. Every year we would drive out to BC and pick fruit and then I would can up the fruit and make lots of apple pies. We really enjoyed making wooden things big or small projects such as furniture to Knick knack stuff. In our Senior years we had joined the Outdoor club and enjoyed cross country skiing and hiking. We were involved with the Greater Forest lawn Center helping with dinners and dances and taking craft classes. I loved to sketch and oil paint but after Wes passed away, I sort of lost interest in it but I had many pictures hanging on my wall. I loved spring when I could get out into my garden and the yard. One day trimming the hedge I fell and broke my arm but that didn’t stop me from getting outside especially picking apples off my tree. I sure did enjoy my weekly rides to the bank and Coop for groceries on Allan’s motorcycle up until I was 103 yrs. old. I miss riding our horses and one of my bucket-list was to ride across Canada on the horse. (maybe it will be up to the pearly white gates).

Peggy is lovingly remembered by her 3 children, Shirley (Roy) Mundell, Allan (Donna) Orr, Bob and Joanne Orr; 11grandchildren, Jason (Shelly) Mundell, Tiffany (Adam) Nicholas, Aaron Mundell, Heather (Greg) Harker, Scott (Kelly) Orr, Dawn (Rob) Moxley, Amber (Cam) Kiddle, Michael Orr, Fern (Jet) Schmidt, Melanie (Kelly) Morton, Tanya (Ed) Proctor, 26 great grandchildren, 6 great-great grandchildren. She is predeceased by her parents James & Mary Millar, brothers Tommy, Jimmy, Malcolm, Alan Millar; sister Jeannie Millar; grandsons Scott and Michael Orr.

Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at a visitation held at Foster’s Garden Chapel, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery) on January 27 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Foster’s Garden Chapel, on Monday, January 27, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Crossfield Cemetery

If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made directly to Greater Forest Lawn Seniors or Albert Park Community Center.