Obituary of Evelynn Hancock

Evelynn Charlotte Hancock passed away in the Alberta Hospital, Ponoka, Alberta on Saturday, July 22, 2006 at the age of 89 years. Evelynn was predeceased by her 1st husband Melvin Rowley and her 2nd husband Les Hancock. The funeral service for Evelynn was conducted from the McCaw Funeral Chapel, Lloydminster, Alberta on Friday, July 28, 2006 at 10:00 A.M. with Reverend Elwood McLean officiating. A eulogy was given by Don Ogilvie. Hymns sung were “Beyond the Sunset,” “Abide With Me,” and “In the Garden,” accompanied on the organ by Donna Weston. Active pallbearers were: David Jaremco, Bill Jaremco, Larry Ireland, Shane Rowley, Barry Newman and Tyrell Ogilvie. Interment followed in the Lloydminster City Cemetery. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster administered the funeral arrangements. Eulogy Evelynn Charlotte Hancock passed away on Saturday, July 22, 2006 in the Apollo Wing at Ponoka Alberta Hospital for Alzheimer's patients. Eveylynn leaves to mourn her passing: One son, Melvin (Ted) Rowley and wife Ruby; daughter Opal Ireland and companion Marcel Theils of Benalto; daughter Arlene and husband Peter Jaremco of Derwent. She also leaves her grandchildren -David Jaremco (Sharon), Diane Gabriel, Bill Jaremco (Colleen), Treena (Bryce Barrett), Donna Snider, Larry Ireland, Robert Ireland, Shannon (Don Ogilvie), Shane Rowley (Theresa); fourteen great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. Evelynn was born on February 8, 1917 in Sandstone, Minnesota. She was the only child of Andrew and Etta Nelson. Her father was born in Vibory, South Dakota of Swedish parents. Her mother was born in Pocahontas County in West Virginia. Evelynn's mothers' family has been traced all the way back to the 1600's in West Virginia. True to her heritage she was a very interesting lady. In 1919, Evelynn moved to Canada with her parents and a bachelor uncle, Charlie Nelson, to north of Maidstone in Canada. The family farmed in that area until she met her first husband, Mel. They married in 1935 and had three children - Ted, Opal, and Arlene. The family lived north of Marshall for awhile and then bought a farm East of Hillmond in 1942 where she and Mel farmed until 1972, when they retired to Lashburn. Evelynn was very musical and taught all three of her children how to play various instruments. Mel played the fiddle and Evelynn and the kids accompanied him. They often played at house parties and family gatherings. Evelynn loved to cook and always enjoyed company. Although she only had her immediate family in Canada, her husband, Mel, came from a large family. They often had visitors on the weekends. Evelynn worked very hard on the farm as most farm wives did in her time. She milked cows and shipped cream, got Mel to build her a pig barn and for many years she raised pigs and there were always a few cows around. She had a great green thumb and could grow a good garden anywhere. Mel died in 1981 and she stayed alone in the house for a few years with the dog. She kept up her gardening, took in boarders and babysat. My first memory of Evelynn was in the house at Lashburn when I was "taken home to meet the family.” She didn't know Shannon and I were coming, but I was fed almost within minutes of arriving. I think she was sort of "feeding me into the family.” Evelynn finally sold her house at Lashburn in 1990, moved to Fellowship Village and bought a cabin at Perch Lake where she spent the summers. True to form, she grew a garden there too. At 75 years of age, she married rancher Les Hancock from Maple Creek. Her great-grandchildren watched the wedding ceremony conducted by Mary Popowich - not many people can say that they went to their great-grandmother's wedding. Once again, an opportunity to feed the family. She and Les lived part of the year at her cabin at Perch Lake and then at his home in Maple Creek. They later bought a house at Paradise Hill. When Les died in 1997, Evelynn sold the house and moved back to Lashburn and eventually back to Lloydminster. She and Les used to stop at Unity on their way to his place at Maple Creek and she told her family that she wanted to buy a house there. Everyone tried to dissuade her but when her family was on a holiday, she sold her house in Lloydminster and bought one in Unity even though she didn't know anyone there. This was quite an adventure for someone in her eighties. A year later she sold the house in Unity and moved back to Halshome and then to Pioneer Lodge in Lloydminster. She spent her last two years at the Ponoka Hospital where she received the very best of care. Evelynn lived a long, very active and at times almost nomadic life . . . She worked hard, and passed that trait on to her three children. This is in evidence if you look at the successful lives of her children and their families. I'd like to say that this tiny, determined woman lived a very huge life. Evelynn moved, and farmed, and moved and raised a great family, she gardened and babysat. She, I think, fed everyone she ever met, she once told me that she was even a dance teacher for a while. I danced with her a few times and I believed her. She never stopped living her life the way she wanted to. And that made her a richer person, and it sure did give everyone who knew her, something to talk about. Evelynn was always noticed, . . . and will not be forgotten. Card of Thanks Thank you to Pastor Elwood McLean for the wonderful service; Don Ogilvie for giving the eulogy; grandsons and great-grandsons for being pallbearers; Donna Weston for being the organist; Colleen Hozack and her staff for the excellent dinner; our cousin, George Wood, for giving Grace; and to Dave, Glenn and Dale and their efficient, caring staff at McCaw Funeral Service Ltd. A special thanks to Dr. Vissar, Ina Rodenburg-Hart and staff at Ponoka Hospital for the exceptional care given to our mother in the past two years. Ted, Opal and Arlene and families