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Arlyne Lawson

Arlyne Lawson

Lieu de naissance : Canada

Lieu de décès : Canada

It is with profound sadness the family of Arlyne Lawson announce her passing on December 18, 2009, (three days after her 85th birthday) at Cypress Regional Hospital, Swift Current, with her family by her side. Arlyne was born in 1924 on the family farm at Halbrite, SK, the oldest of four children. Arlyne is predeceased by her parents Henry and Mabel Towne; husband Doug; son Gavin; and sister and brother, Lorraine and Douglas. She leaves to mourn her son Brent (Nadia) of Highgate, ON, their children, Marlin (Shelly), Alexis and Cody of Thamsville, ON, Kyle, Highgate, ON, Jordan (Katie), Laine of Calgary, AB; her daughter Tazma (Warren) of Ernfold, SK, and their children Dayton of Medicine Hat, AB, Brock and Palmer, both of Swift Current, SK; brother, Bryan (Liz) of Halbrite, SK. Mom was raised during the thirties, but had fond memories of her childhood with her close-knit family on the farm. Arlyne excelled in school and dreamt of being a journalist. She was a natural artist and the English language was her forte. In those days you usually became a nurse or a teacher, Mom chose the latter. She attended Normal School in Moose Jaw, then taught in several locations in Southeast Saskatchewan, until her children were born. During Mom’s teenage years, an RCAF Air force base established a flight training school at Halbrite to train pilots during the war. This opened up a new window from the routines if rural life for Mom. She and her friends rode their bikes out to the base for dances, movies, and all the attention of the many young men stationed there. One who became a friend was transferred to Vancouver where Arlyne went by train to visit. In the 1940’s that was a big adventure for a prairie girl. While walking in the street in Vancouver, she strolled right through a red light and while auto’s honked and people shouted warning, she kept walking head held high. It was the first time Mom had ever seen traffic lights and didn’t know what they were. She often laughed at her naivety. Mom met Dad at a rural dance. Mom’s girlfriend had dared her to ask him to dance. She did and was intrigued by his unravelling knit reindeer sweater and carefree attitude. The rest is history. After they were married they lived in Halbrite, Weyburn, moving to Swift Current in 1962, where they started their business InterCity Cleaning. Initially, cleaning the newly built Research Station they eventually cleaned most of the commercial buildings in Swift Current and at one time employed 25 people. Mom was the secretary and bookkeeper. Mom and Dad shared a love of the great outdoors and both had a creative bend. They always made sure their kids had lots of opportunities to appreciate and enjoy nature. Lots of camping trips in their huge army tent, fishing, hiking, skiing and campfires. While the kids were growing up Mom kept busy as the provincial president of the Home and school Association, where she often wrote elaborate speeches to present to her peers. She also was active in the Homemaker’s club here in Swift Current. Mom and Dad were on the steering committee that helped establish the first Allied Arts Council in Weyburn. Mom’s love of the Arts also took her to Banff School of Fine Arts for a summer. When she worked at Woolworths later in life she was famous for her elaborate costumes, crazy antics and funny jokes and sayings. She was often called upon to roast fellow employees. Arlyne, Gramms, or Mom, as she was known to us, was an intensely private, shy person, until you got knot her. Her flair for the dramatics often found her quoting lines from long forgotten poems and limericks, some incredibly deep and beautiful, some behind the barn racey. She usually communicated indirectly using clichés, shipits of poetry, or colourful interjections to describe what she was saying. Her wit was boundless, well times, and always fit the conversation perfectly. Mom’s manners were impeccable and she always made sure everyone was properly acknowledged and thanked for the smallest of things. She baked most elaborate cakes and planned the best parties for her kids and grandkids. She loved all occasions and never forgot a birthday or anniversary. Every season she would dig out her craft supplies and oil paints and create unique decorations. She was a beautiful oil painter and we have many to cherish. Every year in August she would start phoning her grandkids wondering what they would like to be for Halloween so that she could start sewing crafting their costumes. Mom loved photography especially black and white hand colored pictures. She wasn’t even too mad when Dad tore apart their downstairs bathroom to turn it into a darkroom for them. She entered countless photos in the province travelling photo circuit and loved to judge other competitions. Many trophies fill her house to attest to this. Mom loved shadows and lines and hiking in the hills with a thermos of coffee and of course a lunch. Ernfold was a favourite destination, she spent hours hiking with her grandkids and loved to go out to the cattle and poke around. She would always say she loved the sky here because you could not see it in the city. The grandsons would take turns having a grams weekend. This usually involved fishing, another love of hers, eating, doing crafts and watching movies. Once when Mom had a fender-bender it was her boys she told and swore them to secrecy because there was absolutely to reason to worry Taz. She liked nothing better than having her grandsons take her out for supper. She said she liked to be seen on their arm. Mom called everyday to find out what her boys were doing. Even though some of her grandsons lived far away she kept abreast of them through the phone. The grandsons called Gramms a food pusher because she was determined that you would eat in her presence. She always had a stash of treats in her house just in case you dropped by and a tub of fresh gumdrops on her table. Mom thought her house was messy and cluttered but we all loved it there because it was full of memories and it was safe and unchanging. You could immerse yourself in pictures for hours or look up any subject you wanted to because chances are she would have a book tucked away on that very subject. Who need Google or spell check when you could call and ask Mom how to spell or what any word you could possibly think of meant. She would always say, “Just a sec I’ll get my pencil.” Mom’s second family would have to be her friends at McDonald’s. If you ever needed to find Mom on any given day at 2:30, that is where she would be. It was her outing for the day and she said her car was on auto pilot to go there. It got Mom out of the house and gave her a reason to dress up and put make-up on. The friendships she developed there over the years were intensely important to her. Bob and Joyce who supplied her with jumbles and crossword puzzles; Agatha and Francis; the Sabach’s and June to name a few. She valued their friendships. Garland, who helped Mom with her independence, was more importantly a good trusted friend who she shared many a morning coffee with was also an important part of Mom’s life. Mom was a member of the Image West Photography Club, Nature Saskatchewan, Archaeological Society, and many positions in these organizations over the years. She enjoyed the annual bird count and sightings of nature at any given time of the year and always has her camera ready to record these events on film. Mom leaves behind a lifetime of memories of a life well lived. Her strength is deeply rooted in those things that last, love of family, honour and responsibility, kindness and a giving heart. She is loved. Donations to her memory can be made to the CNIB (in honour of her nonsighted sister). A private family ceremony will take place at a later date.

 

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