Barb was born in Pouce Coupe Hospital in 1924. Her parents had immigrated to Canada and the family settled on a farm in the Rolla area.
Barb completed schooling in Rolla. She loved sports particularly softball and was on the Rolla team for quite a few years. After finishing grade 12, Barb taught school for 3 years in East Pouce Coupe then another 3 years at Seven Mile Corner School. Another highlight of her young adult life was travelling to Scotland by ship with her parents in 1947.
Barb married Joe Deak in 1949 and resided in Dawson Creek. Two daughters were born – Judy first and then Sheila. With the marriage of both children and the arrival 2 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, Barb’s life was enriched by family both her immediate family as well as the large extended family comprised of the Scobies, Fossums and Deaks.
Barb liked to read, quilt and knit. She also made her own clothes. She liked to garden and grow flowers; to cook and can food. There are fond memories of the early years 1950’s and 1960’s spent playing cards, hosting sing songs and feeding a crowd of family and friends.
Barb and Joe moved from Dawson Creek to their farm in Rolla in 1966 and lived there until 1973 when they moved back to Dawson Creek. Joe and Barb celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1999. Joe’s death followed shortly thereafter in 2000. Barb moved to Heritage Heights then later moved to Pouce Coupe Care Home and finally to Rotary Manor.
It is there that she settled and stabilized with the wonderful care and friendships she made with the staff. The staff would take time in their busy schedules to share stories which made her day. She got involved with activities and joined the Resident Council and became a Director. She remained interested in everyone around her and in control of her life decisions. With deteriorating health she peacefully passed away in Rotary Manor on November 27th 2013 at 2:30 am at the age of 89.
Dorothy was predeceased by husband, Joe Deak, her parents David and Margaret Scobie, brother (William Scobie), and her husband’s parents and her in-laws Albert and Esther Deak.
She is survived by, and fondly remembered by her loving children Judy (Bruce) Wilson, Sheila (Ian) Cruikshank, grandchildren Marcia (Warren) Day, Karen (Robert) Henry, great-grandchildren Kaitlyn, and Adam Henry, Elysia, Wyatt and Levi Day, sister Jean Fossum, Brothers and sisters inlaws Eve Scobie, Shirley Crull, Bill Deak, Irene and Orville Naslund, Anna Deak, and Lorna Deak, also numerous nieces and nephews and their children.
Funeral arrangement under the direction of ‘Bergeron Funeral Services
& Crematorium’