Patience May MacArthur

On July 27, 2023, Patience May MacArthur of Lamont, Alberta passed away peacefully at the age of 101. She will be lovingly remembered by her 5 children: Karen (Shawna) MacArthur of Beaver County, AB Jan Degen of Lamont, AB, Charney (Pat) Jones of Creighton, Saskatchewan, Ken (Kim) MacArthur of Abbotsford, BC, Bruce (Julie) MacArthur of Sherwood Park. Also 11 grandchildren: Mike (Jennie), Gary (Brittney), Jenni (Shawn), Chris (Dawn), Jocelyn (Einar), Damon, Ashley (Cory), Brittney (Rob), Cassandra, Brandon, Yves (Ashley). And 18 great grandchildren: Lily, Lilly, Mathias, Hazell, Thorsten, Pernilla, Kaylee, Maddy, Elliot, Ethan, Cory, Kristine, Isla, Felix, Alexzander, Vera, RJ and  Brooklynn.  Also her brother Philip(Helen) Johnson of Edmonton and her sister Isabel McDonald of Kelowna.

She was predeceased by her husband William and her siblings Keith Johnson, Madelaine Staples, and Marjorie Hanson.

Patience May lived a long and rich life. She was born in a log home in Ranfurly, AB in 1922 to her parents Isabel and Christopher Johnson- a middle sister of 6: Madelaine, Marjorie, May, Isabel, Keith and Philip. They soon moved to Edmonton in 1925 and she grew up in several west end homes where she was happy to help her Dad in his market garden until he passed away in 1940.

She continued to live with her Mom until moving to Ottawa where she worked in the secretarial pool for the airforce during World War Two from 1941-1943. When she returned to Edmonton she again lived with her Mom & worked at the U of A hospital in records & switchboard.

She met her beloved William on a blind date in 1949 and they married on September 8, 1951. They bought their first home in Edmonton and their first child Karen, was born in 1954. Bill’s job took them many places- Bowness, Calgary- where Janice was born in 1957- Then back to Edmonton where Charney was born in 1959, Ken in 1960 and Bruce in 1961.

In 1962 they moved 1st to Onoway and then Ross Creek to farm- something that Bill had always wanted to do and May was game to try!

They then moved to a farm by Lamont where May had several jobs…a teachers aide in Chipman school, a nurses aide in Lamont hospital and a clerk at Lamont drug store. In 1971 they moved to a farm on Hwy 637 & finally in 1974 they were able to purchase a farm of their own near Chipman.  They lived happily there & settled into their farming life until Bill’s death in 1993.  May carried on at the farm for awhile with the help of her son Bruce but then moved to Lamont in 1994.  She eventually bought a little house in 1996 where she lived for 16 years.

The church was always a big part of May’s life starting as a Young Christian Woman at St Paul’s Anglican Church in Edmonton where she made many friends. One of her best friends (who she met at 3 yrs old) was Lucy Messum (Dallamore). They continued to be friends for years- 95 to be exact! May quickly became a member of whatever church was the closest to where she lived. I remember running through the adults legs at the Ross Creek church Thanksgiving dinners as the hall was so crowded.  Food drives, clothes drives, dinners- there was always something for her to do. May ended up at Lamont United church for years where she was a member of the UCW and also Presbytery, for which  she traveled often as a representative of the church and often with her friend Sheila. One of her favorite trips was to Newfoundland.

May was always up for an adventure & traveling suited her just fine. Mrs. Hersecorn was a common companion on her trips. Bus trips, including spring & fall seniors getaways at Jasper Park Lodge and cruises to Alaska & Panama Canal and even a trip to China were a constant in her life.

May was a very social person & became a regular at Scrabble Club & the Red Hat Society where she made many life long friends. She was also part of a “breakfast club” of a dozen or so friends that met everyday for coffee just to check in with each other.

When Lamont Health Centre opened a new wing of Independent Living, May decided it was time & moved there in 2012. She loved her little suite & yard for many years. And she continued traveling with her family- a train/ cruise trip in Alaska-a Caribbean cruise. Also numerous trips to visit her children at the homes they settled in- Ken in Abbotsford, Jan in Barrhead, Charney in Creighton. May loved her family- especially all the grandchildren.

In her “down” time, May loved to garden & read & knit. A favorite project was knitting toques for the homeless- a program started by Josh Clausen at CTV ( Some years knitting as many as 100 toques!) She met him one time dropping the toques off &  they were both very excited to meet each other.

The last 3 years of her life were spent in the auxiliary wing of the Lamont Hospital where she continued with bingo & chapel & any activity that was happening. She loved her visits from family far away or close. And was always up for a drop in from Jan or Bruce’s Sunday visit or her weekly drives with Karen. The staff were kind & helpful & I am sure she kept them “ on their toes”

In her 101 years of life- anytime May had a chance to do something for someone else, she took  it. Anytime there was a chance for adventure, she took it. Her favorite place was always her home & yard (and Jones family greenhouse). She most enjoyed any flowers & the songs of the birds all the days of her life. She touched and was touched by many and her twinkling eyes, stories, and fierce spirit will be missed by many.

Good bless Patience May

A memorial service will be held August 26 at 11 am at Lamont United Church, 5396-51 Ave, Lamont.

Interment with her beloved William at Old Chipman United Church cemetery and lunch to follow.

Donations can be made to a charity of your choice.