January 20, 1920 - October 31, 2009

Marjorie passed away peacefully in Royal Inland Hospital on Saturday morning, following a brief illness. She is survived by her three sons Cliff (Barbara), and Russ (Angi) of Kamloops, and Steve (Nancy) of Vernon, as well as grandchildren Ted (Aldéa), Laura (Shaun), Ryan, Lindsay (Dave) and Monique (Doug).

Born the fifth of six children of North Shuswap pioneers Charles and Mildred Blake, Madge grew up on the family farm at Magna Bay. She graduated from Kamloops High School and worked in family service in Kamloops and Victoria in preparation for entering nurses' training at Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. She was called home to the North Shuswap on the death of her father in 1939, and remained there to help with the family farm. In 1941, she married Stan Noakes, the son of a neighbouring family. They settled on their own farm on the bench above Magna Bay. In 1946, with their first child, they moved to the Cariboo so Dad could take a summer job with the BC Forest Service on Quesnel Lake. The Forest Service job became permanent, and the family (now with two children) moved between Quesnel Lake, Williams Lake and the Forest Ranger School in Whalley, BC several times between 1947 and 1950. The family finally moved to Kamloops in 1950, where son number three was born, and Mom was finally able to run a household where she could depend on running water, indoor plumbing and electricity.

She set herself the formidable task of trying to raise three active sons, encouraging them in academic achievement, music and sports participation. She was active herself in Parent-Teacher Auxiliaries, Music Parents and the Yale-Cariboo Music Festival.

After seeing her sons off to higher education, she enrolled in business courses at Cariboo College, studying bookkeeping. She then took on part-time work preparing tax returns.

In 1974, the couple retired to their beloved Magna Bay, building a home on the lake where Mom delighted in watching wildlife and waterfowl. Both she and Dad were founding members of the North Shuswap Historical Society, and contributed articles and research for the society's publication "Shuswap Chronicles."

Recently, Mom has resided at The Hamlets in Westsyde, where she enjoyed the company of many friends and the dedicated care of the staff.

The family wishes to thank the many caregivers at The Hamlets, the paramedics of the BC Ambulance Service, the medical staff of Royal Inland Hospital's Emergency ward and 3-South who provided Mom with the best of care on her many visits there, and Drs. Kip, Stabler, Leia-Stephen, and Tynan.

A Memorial Service for Mom will be held on Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 1:00 P.M. at the Anglemont Seniors Centre, 7703 Squilax-Anglemont Road.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Marjorie's name may be made to the North Shuswap First Responders, Box 202, Celista, BC, V0E 1L0.