Obituary
HELEN JEANNETTE GILMORE
SHE FLIES LIKE AN EAGLE
Helen Jeannette Gilmore, born November 15, 1924 Vanguard, Sask passed peacefully at Cerwydden Care Facility, Duncan January 25, 2020 in the presence of her daughters..
A devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for nearly 60 years, Helen conducted Sunday school and other classes, made numerous trips to the Temple, went on a mission, and was devoted to the pursuit of genealogical research.
During her long life, Helen managed various small businesses; taught community college courses in Industrial First Aid, Wilderness Survival and Nutrition; and Sunday School and other courses at her church. Helen ran a small farm; was a camp First Aid Attendant, a commercial beekeeper with 100 hives, a camp cook, a short order cook who made the best pies ever, a bookkeeper, a horse trainer who broke wild mustangs, a horse whisperer, and poultry raiser. She was an accomplished seamstress and knitter; she could do basic carpentry, drywall, roofing, general house maintenance and simple electrical and plumbing repair. She was an accomplished hunter and expert marksman – had she not had that skill, we would often have gone hungry. In short, she was a Jill-of-all-trades and could do just about anything. Her first motto was “a woman can do anything a man can and more besides!”; her second was “always depend on yourself first”.
A lifelong learner, Helen continually upgraded her knowledge and achieved her educational goals through determination and hard work. Among other diplomas, Helen passed her written exams to become a pilot (the only reason she never received her licence was her advanced pregnancy prevented her from completing the air hours requirement); received her GED in her 50s; passed her Real Estate exams and was a realtor; was a certified Reiki practioner; completed an Office Administration program in her late 60s. All this in spite of the fact that she had only completed Grade 4 as a child (the school house burnt down when she was 9).
Helen is survived by her children Gloria McArdle, Bonnie Murray (Duncan, BC), David Reid (Lisa) Grande Prairie, AB; grandchildren Rebecca, Nathan, Izaak (Deb), Morgan (Arifa), Devon (Elisa), Rachael, Ailysh, and Kenndal (Nicole); and ggrandchildren Nick, Luke, Emila, Leo, Bryce, Amina, Heidi, Cadence, Nala, and Nathan. Predeceased by son Jason Reid (Calgary) and grandson Aaron.
Service will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1815 Tzouhalem Rd, Duncan, BC on February 15th at 1:30 pm.
In lieu of flowers, we would be very appreciative if donations could be made in her name to the Alzheimer Society of BC.
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing
and rightdoing there is a field.
I’ll meet you there.
-Rumi
To send flowers to Helen’s family, please visit our floral section.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Helen Jeannette GILMORE November 15 1924 January 25 2020 (age 95)..
Décès pour la Ville: Ladysmith, Province: Colombie britanique