Jeanette “Jean” Hiles (nee MacPherson) journeyed home to be with her Lord and Saviour, and all her beloved who had gone before her on Sunday, February 2, 2014. She lived a faith-full life, and now peace is hers. God blessed us with Jean on April 28, 1931 in Strongfield, Saskatchewan. Her formative years would be shaped by the great Depression and World War II, experiencing the hardships that faced her family and so many others. She would grow up with brothers Don, Wes and Cecil on the family farm under the faithful guidance of her parents Gordon and Louise MacPherson. Here Jean would be taught of God's Providence through their family's involvement in Strongfield United Church, and the surrounding neighbours' Norwegian Lutheran influences. She loved church camp and singing in the choir. After graduation from high school she studied to be a teacher at Normal School in Moose Jaw. Here she met lifelong friends, that she so enjoyed catching up with at the school reunions. Her first teaching positions would be near Loreburn and then at Mortlach. She would meet her husband, Roy of 60 years in Mortlach and they would marry on July 22, 1953 at Strongfield United Church. They would settle on the Hiles family farm 6 miles southwest of Mortlach and there they would raise their family of three children: Larry, Ken and Della. Jean would only teach for a short while, and then poured herself into her community: teaching Sunday School, being part of the UCW, on the local school board and so much more. All the while she was Roy's right hand partner at the farm helping with trucking, yard work running meals and managing the household. Her hands were never idle, and her days were ever full. After 40 years of farming Roy and Jean retired to Moose Jaw where they surrounded themselves with their good neighbours and involvement at Minto United Church. Mom would be a lay pastoral care volunteer for Minto since 1991, and continued until this past year when her health no longer allowed her to. When she wasn't working, and volunteering, she loved to read, knit, crochet, listen to music and play cards. She enjoyed camping immensely, as well as going on bus trips and excursions. She celebrated God's creation through her gardening and yard work spending countless hours mowing and trimming as well as planting, canning and filling the cupboards with the fruits of her labours. She revelled in the sound of birdsong and loved seeing the baby calves kicking up their heels in the spring. She would be blessed with five grandchildren and most recently the birth of her first great-grandchild. Mom faced her diagnosis with the same faith she lived with each day saying: "It is for times such as these that I am so glad I have Jesus". She lived and died by faith. Jean is predeceased by parents, Gordon and Louise MacPherson, brothers Rev. Don MacPherson, Wesley (Kaye) MacPherson, and Cecil MacPherson as well as sisters and brothers-in-law: Dorothy (Al) Neufeldt, Gladys(Lester) Gerken, and Ray Ellis; nephew Murray MacPherson and niece Faye MacPherson. Jean is survived by her loving husband Roy, and their family: Larry Hiles (Faye Meyer) and Christopher; Ken (Cheryl) Hiles and Tyrone and Dylan; and Della (Del) Ferguson and Vanessa (Dustin) Heron and Katie, and Gray Ferguson. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law: Cathy MacPherson and Helen Ellis; as well has her numerous nieces, nephews and cousins who all hold such a special place in Jean's heart.
"Well done, good and faithful servant!"
A Celebration of Jean's Life and Faith will be held at W.J. Jones & Son Chapel on Thursday, February 6, 2014 at 2:00 pm. Interment will follow at Sunset Cemetery. Memorial donations are welcomed for The Canadian Cancer Society, 61B Ross St.W., Moose Jaw, S6H 2M2. In living memory of Jean, a memorial planting will be made by W.J. Jones & Son Funeral Home. Please sign the memorial register at website: www.wjjonesandson.com (Obituaries).