MARION WANDA ALFORD
1921 - 2009

Marion Wanda Alford was born in Brandon, Manitoba on September 9, 1921, the daughter of William and Wanda Donald. She and her three sisters, Elsie, Margaret and Betty, and brothers Bill and Jack, grew up in Brandon.

Marion wanted to be a seamstress and learned to sew for herself and her jealous friends. When the war broke out and Brandon was surrounded by military bases, the lovely Donald girls had their pick of dance partners. Marion caught the eye of a handsome airman from Saskatoon named Ronald Goodson Alford. They soon married and had their own family of five, Don, Ron, Joan, and the twins, Betty Ann and Barb. Sometime in the 60s when the boys had left home and the girls were in high school, the family moved to Kamloops. To the teenagers that flocked to her house, she was known affectionately as \"Mrs A\".

Marion began work at Tranquille School as head seamstress in the laundry, where she worked until she retired. In 1979 Marion was tragically widowed when Ron was killed in an industrial accident. The children all married and had their own families. Marion was the best Grandma with a warm heart, a comfy lap, and nimble fingers with which she created untold numbers of tiny ribboned and smocked layettes, fancy dresses and sturdy overalls, doll clothes, and miles of crocheted afghans and patchwork quilts.

After retirement at Tranquille, Marion travelled the world with her friend Doreen. They camped in the Australian outback, climbed the Great Wall of China, wore out their walking shoes in Europe, and relaxed pool side on many a cruise. Mind you, Marion wasn\'t quite retired. She worked most days in The Stitchery with Joan and Barb. In the summer the whole family celebrated the Corn Roast where Marion presided over the foolishness as \"Corn Mother.\" A few years back Marion moved to the Renaissance where she was everyone\'s favourite resident. She dominated the puzzle room, kept the potted flowers alive, lead the exercise class, and kept up with her many favourite sports teams. You could say she was a fan. We don\'t know what the Lions are going to do now without her support.

Marion is survived by her sister Betty and brother Jack; by four children, Don Alford (Joyce), Ron Alford (Patsy), Betty Ann Belisle (Phil) and Barb Webster (Jack); and her seven grandchildren, Sarah and Toby Alford, Tanya Scannell and Madi Webster, Erin and Ryan Dolmage, and Michael (Regan) Alford; and one great grandchild Sierra Scannell.
She is sadly predeceased by her husband Ron, daughter Joan, brother Bill and sisters Elsie and Margaret.

Marion passed away suddenly on October 14. Celebration of Marion\'s life will be held on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Personal Alternative, 177 Tranquille Road.

You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence at the family\'s on-line memorial register at www.personalalternative.com.

Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Personal Alternative Funeral Services, 250-554-2324.

We loved her and we\'re going to miss her.
There\'s nothing left to say except
GO LIONS GO!