Margaret Agnes Harris was born in Kamloops, BC weighing 3 lbs. She didn’t have an easy life. At 16 months old, she lost her dad in a work-related accident, her mom never remarried, and life was difficult. She, along with her mother and older brother, grew up in South Vancouver.
Margaret married Roy in 1938, resulting in Diane, Donna and David. They lived in Port Mellon, Vancouver Island, Surrey, Abbotsford, Sechelt and Chilliwack.
Besides ‘mothering’ us, she worked in a Bakery, a hotel, and waitressed at Kresge’s.
In 1958, after training as a Nurse’s Aide and working at Woodlands Institution (for mentally challenged folks) the government decided to ‘phase out’ various services and mom was asked if she and dad would consider taking eight patients into their home for care. They did! And this wonderful arrangement lasted for many years. We refer to these folks as mom and dad’s “second family”.
In 1968 mom gave her heart to the Lord. These are her own words describing that momentous experience: “It was during a Congress Meeting at Vancouver Temple. When the ‘call’ was put forth, I looked at my daughter and she at me. We went to the Mercy Seat together. I asked the Lord to forgive my sins. I thought I had to list the sins of my life till that time. Diane prayed with me. A load of care was lifted and peace took its place when I realized that God sacrificed His Son Jesus for my sin.”
She and dad, along with their “second family”, attended The Salvation Army South Burnaby Corps, and friendships that were forged then have lasted all these years.
Mom lived her latter years at The Waverly Seniors’ Village in Assisted Living, and then in Residential Care where she was loved and appreciated. Not only did staff tend to her needs, but mom always had a come-back’, a few words of wisdom, or a roll of the eyes, to brighten their days as well. She was truly ‘one of a kind’! In the end, after a long life on this earth, Mom lived a very productive and blessed life. I don’t know when she penned these words, but she’s repeated them by heart many times during recent years, and she leaves them with you:
God is my Help in every need, God does my every hunger feed
He walks beside me, guides my way through every moment of the day.
I now am wise, I now am true, patient, kind, and loving too.
All I am, can do, and be, through Jesus Christ who is in me.
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