Obituary of Doris Bexfield

BIOGRAPHY BEXFIELD ~ Doris Mary Bexfield passed away peacefully at the Jubilee Home in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at the age of 92 years. Doris will be sadly missed by: her loving husband Alf of Lloydminster; one son Ron Bexfield and his wife Joan and their family: Haley and Sheldon Hope and their children Madison and Austin; Brad and Sheri Bexfield and their children Morgan, Lauren and Jacob; Kristin and Chris Hickman and their children Liam and Alizay; one daughter Linda and her husband Doug Abrosimoff and their family: Monica Abrosimoff and Mike Jubb, Leah and Morgan Mann and their children Olivia and George. The funeral service for Doris was conducted from the Lashburn Community Hall, Lashburn, Saskatchewan on Monday, March 3, 2008 at 2:00 P.M. with Reverend Michael Stonhouse officiating. A tribute was given by Doris' grandchildren. A eulogy was read by Linda Abrosimoff and Ron Bexfield. Hymns sung were "Breathe On Me, Breath Of God" and "In The Garden" accompanied on the organ by Jo Klassen. Honorary pallbearers were all those who shared in Doris' life. Active pallbearers were her grandchildren: Haley and Sheldon Hope, Brad and Sheri Bexfield, Kristin and Chris Hickman, Monica Abrosimoff and Mike Jubb, Leah and Morgan Mann. Interment was held at the Lashburn Cemetery. A Tribute to our MOM ! I feel very honoured and privileged to be able to pay tribute to my Mom's wonderful life. With the help of various invaluable history books, one of which Dad has written, and the many family stories exchanged I will begin. Doris Mary Hall was born Oct 9 1915, in Lashburn hospital, to Charlie and Nellie Hall. The 3rd child of a family of six, being the first born daughter. Brothers Rex and Jack both born at home, Mom was the first to be delivered in hospital. Eileen, Geoff and Enid completed their family. Times were tough raising a family with no plumbing, wood fires and only horse and buggy or sleigh for travel. I often have heard Mom quote a saying that she inherited from her Mother, "Things are never so bad but what they might be worse." I think my Mom, lived her life, a lot by this quote, as she always seemed to have the foresight, to put all situations, into a logical perspective. Mom talks of going to school with the team and cutter with Eileen, Geoff & Enid. Mom's quoted as saying "Geoff and I used to have a right royal battle over who was to drive. I was the oldest, but he was a boy. Poor Eileen, who hated driving, had to take over while we battled it out. In the spring, they used to walk to school, across the field where the cattle were. In reading Mom's account of one event, it reads as such. One spring morning, Eileen, Geoff, Miss McNair(our teacher) and I were just down by Dad's big hay slough, We sighted the bull in an angry mood horning dirt into the air. Hastily, we climbed and hid in a straw stack, Geoff felt brave, but Miss McNair made him keep out of sight too. Finally, May Haskins, realizing our plight, came to fetch us with her horse and buggy. Now what really struck me about that story was the word "plight". As Mom always enjoyed the Anne of Green Gables books and that's the only other place I remember seeing the word "plight" used. Mail was very important, especially news from the old country, even though it was often 3 months old. The arrival of the Eaton's catalogue was an exciting time as the majority of clothes were bought from there. A couple of stories come to mind of Mom's riding experiences. Grandpa had sent Enid down to the barn to bring in the milk cows. When Mom arrived (dressed in her skirt as most of the girls wore) Enid was about to ride brother Geoff's horse "Freda" thinking she could bring the cows in quicker on horse back. Now apparently "Freda" had a bit of a reputation and Enid was quite nervous to mount her. So she begged Mom to ride her first. Of course Mom wouldn't ride in her skirt, so Enid said "I'll lend you my pants". So Mom agreed, put on Enid's pants and on she got. She climbed up on "Freda" and no sooner did she get on, than "Freda" took the bit in her teeth and off she raced. First she started running round and round in circles. Enid, having not much attire on, started jumping up and down and running after her. Freda then turned and headed straight for the coulee as hard as she could go. It looked as though she would go right into the coulee, but at the last minute wheeled around and headed straight for the open barn door. At this point Enid was terrified Mom would be killed. Just as the horse got to the barn, it stopped dead in its tracks, and Mom flew off her like a shot. There was no horse back riding for the cows that night as Mom and Enid walked to bring them in. Mom also remembered a time, being down in the barn and getting kicked in the head by a horse. Sister Eileen was there and also fearing for Mom's life ran screaming to the house to tell Grandpa. She was crying hysterically and said "Doris has been kicked in the head". Grandpa thought she said "the horse has been kicked in the head" and told her to calm down, it was no big deal and the horse would be fine. When he eventually got her settled down and the story straight, they rushed down to the barn and fortunately Mom was fine. Mom attended the country school of Rereshill up to Grade 8. Then continued with Grade 9 by correspondence as was common in those days. The schools were the social gathering of the districts, with the Christmas concerts, church services and Saturday night dances. The music was always local talent, some of which was provided by the Bexfield boys (Alf on the banjo and Hector on the fiddle). Mom always enjoyed the toe tapping dances and loved to hear Dad play his banjo. The winter of 1935-36, before they were married, and Mom was still teaching in Strathmore, they (Mom on the piano and Dad with his Banjo) played for all the school dances at Tyrone. As they had to drive several miles by team and cutter, crossing the frozen river at Palings' ford, the residents of the district took turns in inviting them to stay for supper and the night. Now the family farm was 14 miles from town, so the only option for continuing schooling for grades 10 to 12 was to board in Lashburn, for a $1.00/day. Mom boarded with Mrs. Hobbs the first year. This was a very lonely time for Mom (at age 15) until the following year, when sister Eileen moved to town, to finish her education. The 2 sisters moved to the Ilsley house and lived with Kathleen Tarleton and another young girl. Times were tough, and money was tight, but somehow Grandpa and Grandma found the $50.00 / year for tuition, for each daughter. Mom graduated in 1933 and moved to Saskatoon that fall to attend Normal School. She made a great friend and companion with Signa Hult, and often mentioned walking across the tracks to the movies for 10 cents a show. It was this year, during the Christmas holidays, when Mom attended a social at Beechwood shool that she first met "the love of her life" Dad. She graduated from teachers college and that fall, started teaching in the Strathmore country school, where she taught for 4 years for $500.00 a year. Mom and Dad's romance blossomed and they were married on the family farm, July 8th 1938. The minister got lost and was 2 hrs late for the ceremony, so by the time he arrived everyone was very relaxed and having a grand time. The wedding tradition, of the bride and groom not seeing one another prior to the ceremony, had long been abolished. Sister Eileen was bridesmaid for Mom, and apparently the Groom had a comment about the fit of her dress. He told her "her dress fit, just like a glove". I think it was meant as a complement, but not sure if that's how it was received. Mom and Dad went on a honeymoon, to Jasper by train. The first time either of them had been west of Lloydminster. They stayed at a B & B for $5.00 for the week. They hiked up Whistler mountain, but didn't give themselves enough time, as they didn't get back until after 11:00 p.m. and a search party was about to be formed. Incidentally, they also went to Jasper for their 60th Wedding Anniversary and stayed in the same B & B, called the Robin's Nest. But I think the rates had gone up a bit. They went up Whistler Mountain, but this time on the gondola. They also had a complementary round of golf, on the Jasper Lodge Golf Course. But I'm getting a little ahead of myself. Mom and Dad farmed in the Beechwood district, from 1938 to 1946. By a kindness of a good neighbour, Roy Wilson, Dad traded two hundred bushels of wheat (fifty bushels a year for 4 years) for a 2 room house. In starting their family in 1941, they were saddened by the loss of a stillborn baby girl. Mom hadn't planned on teaching anymore, but because it was a war time situation, Mom agreed to finish out the school year, at Rereshill from Jan to June 1942. Following that she became a devoted farm wife helping with every aspect of the farm. In 1943 they were blessed with the arrival of a baby boy, Ronald Reginald Geoffrey, named after his 3 uncles who served in the war. In 1946, they sold the 1/4 section in Beechwood and moved north across the river, to the Tyrone district. There they went into a farming partnership, with Dad's brother Art, and bought the Blaikie place. For the first few months, Mom and Dad lived in a granary, as Mrs Blaikie couldn't move until the summer. They soon realized what a wonderful district this was, with great neighbours on all sides. The social events mostly took place in the old school houses, and Tyrone was no different. Friday night, would start out with a card party, then dancing would follow, often going into the early hours of the morning. There were no baby sitters, so the little ones would fall asleep on the piles of coats. In 1950, I joined the family, while apparently Dad was enjoying a curling game. That would be, what Mom would call, the perfect family, "a pigeon pair. My Mom was an amazing, kind, gentle, caring lady. Dad's description of Mom was, "she was a wonderful wife" always so agreeable, and such an easy person to live with. To me, Mom and Dad, were the most amazing example, of what married life should be. I find it hard to talk about the things my Mom did without, mentioning my Dad in the same sentence. They were always together. The love and devotion they shared, with one another, is a legacy our family will always treasure. They had over 70 memorable years of friendship and love. They were just 5 months short of celebrating their 70th Wedding Anniversary. To Mom, family always came first, but she also found time to do the things she enjoyed. Mom was a proud member of the Order of the Eastern Star for many years. She was honoured to be worthy matron in 1957. This duty she took very seriously, and I remember her sewing a long white dress for this special office. Mom was very close to her own siblings, especially her sisters Eileen and Enid. They would get so excited to gather for any occasion. Many a hot summer day the Marlatt's and Bexfield's would all head down to the Battle River, by Alistair Milne's, for a swim. These were special times, for Mom, whenever we celebrated holidays or birthdays with either hers or Dad's families. The traditional meals of turkey, home-made buns, Christmas cakes and puddings, Doug always said my Mom made the best gravy. Mom and Dad took us on many family trips. We would pack up the car, with the tent and cooler, and off we'd head to the mountains. How many times, would we just get the picnic lunch set out, and Mom would be sure she could smell a bear? Mom must have scared him off, as I don't ever remember having to share lunch with one. We had great trips to Loon Lake, with the Marlatt's and the Brownlee's, staying in those little cabins on the beach. I can still see those 3 sisters, out in the lake, each with a bathing cap on, treading water and visiting for it seemed like hours. As children, Grandpa Hall, had taught his family to swim in the Battle River. I never saw anyone float like Mom, lying on her back, and literally her toes would be sticking out of the water. Mom was a wonderful cook. During the threshing days, Grandma Hall would have large crews of men to feed, so Mom soon learned how to cook. She reminisces about her first efforts at pie making. Mother had shown me how, and the precious pie was cooling, ready to be presented to my father at supper time. Much was my dismay, to find the top crust, entirely missing, when I went to bring the masterpiece. Guess who was guilty of having an early taste! One of the boys, I suspect! For us, coming home from school, there was nothing like the smell of home made bread and buns. I remember my brother, cutting an inch wide slice of fresh bread and covering that with a thick layer of peanut butter. Hmmm, that was delicious. Mom had beautiful flowers and a very productive vegetable garden. There was always yummy jams, pickles, canned fruit and plenty of frozen vegetables for the long winter months. One of my Dad's favourite dishes, was fresh saskatoons, stewed. He loved to pick them, and Mom loved to cook them for him. As a member, first of the Ladies Aid, in the Tyrone district and later the A.C.W, in Lashburn, there were many church bazaars, bake sales and teas to prepare for. There must have been hundreds of angel food cakes, pies, tarts and cookies, all made to perfection, taken to those occasions. Mom's house was always immaculate, a characteristic I long to perfect and still struggle to achieve. Growing up, I remember my Mom always wore what she called "house dresses", for everyday. Then she had good dresses, for going out, I don't remember when she first started wearing slacks. How many remember, the smell of clothes dried on the line. In the winter, the sheets would be as stiff as a board, and Mom would put them in the bath tub to finish drying them. The old wringer washers, washing the whites first, so they were in the cleanest and hottest water and the darks last. I remember making homemade butter with Mom. I got to use the butter paddles, to shape the pound of butter and then wrap it in the butter paper. It was a hard job, to churn the cream, to make butter, so Dad decided he would connect an electric motor to the churn. It was a great idea, but the lid was not a good fit under such pressure, and the first time Mom used it, there was thick cream all over the basement ceiling. She soon went back to churning by hand. As kids growing up, we were always involved in community sports. The support we had from our parents, not only getting us there and cheering us on, but also taking there turn on committees and executives. There was figure skating, hockey, softball, baseball and piano lessons, just to name a few. Dad was always there coaching, and Mom keeping score and we're proud to say, we did win a few championships along the way. Mom was a stickler though, for detail, which was evident on each of her score sheets. There were all the figure skating dresses, and costumes, as well as many dresses, Mom so perfectly sewed for me. I also know she sewed many dresses for herself. Mom was a beautiful knitter, and we all have enjoyed the warmth of her many sweaters, as well as the numerous articles, she would make for the church bazaars. I remember Mom knitting a fisherman knit sweater for Dad. It turned out a little big, so she pulled it all apart and re knit it. The Grandkids have also enjoyed some of Grandma's knitting, and I have seen some of those sweaters on the Great Grandkids too. Mom also enjoyed helping at harvest time. She took hundreds of meals out to the fields, and with those fresh vegetables from the garden, they were so delicious. It was part of her life, to help truck the grain or run the combine. She was always very cautious with the big machinery, but I remember one time, when driving the combine, she thought she heard a little ticking sound. I'm sure it wasn't anything Mom did, but I think we were shut down for a short while. Mom always enjoyed her sports. As a young girl she played softball and in later years enjoyed curling and golf. She played in many bonspiels and tournaments and came home with many prizes and trophies. When Mom and Dad retired they both took up golf. In 1971, they started going south to Yuma, for the winters. At first, they would wait until January before they would leave, but that soon got bumped up to between Christmas and New Years, and then eventually they started leaving in late Oct or early Nov, right after harvest. Shortly after they started going south, Dad thought maybe they should stay home one winter and curl. So when he asked Mom what she thought her reply was "why would we want to, we have just started learning how to golf". So that was the end, of that discussion. They pulled their trailer down south for several years. Dad would bring it up to the front step and Mom would pack it full of supplies for the next 5 months. They had their own special route they followed, sharing the driving and always anxious to get back down and meet all the friends they had made. Eventually, they bought a park model trailer, and started driving the ½ ton truck down, full to the brim. In the spring, they brought back grapefruits, oranges and lemons, for all the family to enjoy, as well as many little treats for the Grandkids. Mom and Dad would golf, about 3 or 4 times a week. Mom enjoyed golfing with the ladies every Tuesday and entered many tournaments with Dad. Mom was as meticulous about her golf rules, as she was with her score cards. They had a large collection of trophies, as well as many club house prizes, with Mom winning as many as Dad. Dad mentioned to me just the other day, that Mom had been named "Ace" of the month, a couple of times at the Dessert Hill golf course in Yuma. Mom never wanted to ride, so Dad got her a motorized cart and many of the ladies had trouble keeping up to her. Mom was award a certificate by the Dessert Hill golf club, in recognition of her still walking the golf course at age 83. They were "Snowbirds" for 30 years and never regret a dime spent on travelling. They also enjoyed many other trips together, which include 5 golfing holidays. They travelled with the Canadian Seniors Golf Association to Australia/New Zealand, Norway/Sweden/Denmark, Holland, Hilton Head Island/U.S.A., and Ireland, taking a golf holiday of their own to Scotland/England. They have kept a collection of cards from the courses they have golfed on, and I believe they have golfed on about 250. They both enjoyed their 5 trips back to the old country. Retracing family history and meeting relatives they had written to for years. Mom had a strong faith, but she never preached. Her soft gentle way as a Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother will continue to guide us. I want to thank you Mom, for your unconditional love and support, you have given both, Ron and his family and me and my family. You will always be remembered, with grace and dignity. We will miss you greatly, and we love you with all our heart. This is a small tribute to Grandma on behalf of her grandchildren - Haley Hope, Brad Bexfield, Kristin Hickman, Leah Mann and myself, Monica Abrosimoff. (A special thanks to Haley as this tribute is based on a letter she wrote to Grandma early last week) Dear Grandma, We will miss you. The 5 of us sat down together earlier this week to reminisce about how special you were to each of us. You had a profound effect on each of our lives and have taught us so much about love, life and family. We all admired you and the life that you led. Here are a few things that stand out: Your love and devotion to Grandpa- You have set such a great example for all of us to follow The love and support you showed your family - you were always there at every ballgame, hockey game, dance recital, school play, we were involved in We all feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to be so close to you - we all have such fond childhood memories with you on the farm. Thanks for being there for us. You were an excellent listener. You always gave full attention to what we had to say and we felt that what we had to say was the most important thing in the world. These are a few of the many memories we have of you, Grandma, Your perfectly shaped cookies, sandwiches and energy bars- and how you always served them on a nice plate. We can picture you stirring soup in that orange pot you always used. You were such a wonderful cook! We remember pea soup, sweets from the freezer and especially the lemon meringue pies made from scratch! Your spotless house! Everything had a place and was always so neat! Your arrival homr from Arizona each spring- You always brought us a special gift - kites, planes and always a box of grapefruit and Nutter butters. Our trips to visit you in Yuma! We were all lucky enough to visit you twice in Arizona. We remember the sand dunes, trips to the Peanut Patch, Mexico and the ocean! Your handwriting which was always so neat and perfect. You were fun! There were always dress-up clothes or games like pick up sticks around! Always receiving cards and letters for birthdays. They were always carefully picked out and right on time! (Grandpa has picked up right were you left off as he continues to give us all cards for birthdays, anniversaries etc) Your passion for golf. We can still picture you walking with that quick step pulling your clubs. You were fast for a little lady- no wonder you stayed in such great shape. Golf was serious business- even when we were learning we played by the rules and those balls that went into the trees were counted! Your lovely golf outfits- how cute you were! You and Grandpa were a smart pair! Your beautiful garden on the farm: apples trees, many flowers and vegetables. We remember especially the geraniums, poppies, peonies and rose bushes - just to name a few! The trip each summer with you and Grandpa in the New Yorker to the waterslides in North Battleford- what a treat that was for the 5 of us! Grandma- We all admired you for your choices in life. You were such a kind, loyal, patient person. We look back on your life and realise how much we have learned from you! You were the original environmentalist- always reusing whatever you could, making a compost pile and never wasting anything. You were the ultimate example of the healthy lifestyle- an active life with a balance of hard work and sports, small portions of healthy food and no stress! You had a great sense of adventure - making the most of every moment! You travelled wide and far in the world. This has rubbed off on each of us and we thank you for it! You and Grandpa are the greatest example of a successful and loving marriage. What a great example to have- nearly 70 years together! We are so proud to be your grandchildren! You will always be in our hearts and thoughts and we will pass these memories on to the next generation. Card of Thanks The Family of the late Doris Bexfield would like to thank The Dr Hemstock Staff and The Jubilee Home Staff for the wonderful care you so adequately provided for Doris. To Drs. Van Vuuren, Chapelski and Kerlis for your care and understanding. To Reverend Michael Stonhouse for a beautiful service, to Jo Klassen for the gift of music. To the Grandchildren as acting pallbearers and the Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren for their meaningful tribute. To the Tyrone Ladies and the Anglican Church Ladies for lunch. Special Thank-you to all those who attended, sent cards, flowers, donations, phone calls, brought food and visited our homes. To Glenn McCaw and McCaw Funeral Services for their quality care. Alf Bexfield, Ron and Joan Bexfield and Family, Linda and Doug Abrosimoff and Family. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Alzheimer's Society or to a Charity of the Donor's Choice.