Maurine Williamson-Leavitt passed away peacefully December 28, 2021, three days before her 93rd birthday. As she repeatedly rallied through major health challenges in her last years, her ability to thrive amidst adversity proved to be a metaphor for the entirety of her life: Maurine was good at living. Driven deeply by a love for people and connection, appreciation for beautiful things, and the novelty of new places and experience, she had an infectious laugh and smile and leaves a legacy of warmth and enthusiasm.
Maurine was born December 31, 1928 in Stirling, AB to Lynn Alfred Hirsche and Hortense Florance Lybbert. Growing up, she cultivated exquisite skills in all kinds of fine needlework, crocheting, tatting, and netting and continued to create masterful work until late in her life.
She married her sweetheart, Donald Hughes Williamson on November 10, 1950 and they moved to Carstairs as newlyweds. In 1953 they moved to Cochrane, Alberta and shortly thereafter built a house on Powell St., where they raised their family. Maurine quickly became a core member of the community, helping with the Cochrane census and tallying a whopping 651 citizens. She worked publishing the town newspaper called the Old Timer and ran the Vehicle Registry out of her home, selling license plates for many years. She moved with the registry to the new Alberta Treasury Branch when it opened and later worked in the Highway Patrol office until she retired.
Maurine and Don raised four children: Dixie (Lawrence) Irvine, Scott (Janielee) Williamson, Jayne (Tracy) Duce, and Mark (Colette) Williamson. In 1977, they moved to a scenic stretch of trees and rolling hills northwest of Cochrane and Maurine and Don began work on their dream home and filling it with gorgeous antiques and collections from their travels.
Don passed away on November 30, 1985 and Maurine lived for many more years out on the farm on her own and traveling the world until she married Arlen Leavitt in August 1989. He crafted a lot of the finishing work in the home and together, they served an LDS mission in New Zealand. Arlen died in August 1998 and Maurine continued to love and care about her six step-children and their families for the rest of her life.
Maurine loved having her family around her and distributing treats and delight whenever she could. She is survived by her children and their spouses as well as 19 grandchildren and 52 great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her parents, husbands Don and Arlen, and siblings Marven Hirsche, Carrol Heninger, and Blayne Hirsche, as well as so many friends, all of which have been waiting a long time for the flashiest-dressed life of the party to arrive.
A Funeral Service will be held for Maurine at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – Cochrane Chapel (1100 Gleneagles Drive, Cochrane) on Tuesday, January 4, 2022 at 11:00 am, with viewing prior at 10:00 am. The service can be viewed live at avhd-ca.zoom.us/j/5920173847?pwd=TXJpVHNUZlJGSk5lZDhyTVJRMEVMZz09.
(Meeting ID: 592 017 3847; Passcode: 7n6XcM)
Hugs from home can be submitted through the resources page.
Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
Service
Funeral Service
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – Cochrane Chapel
1100 Gleneagles Drive, Cochrane, AB
January 4, 2022
11:00 am
Viewing prior to service at 10:00 am.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Maurine Williamson Leavitt 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Calgary, Province: Alberta
Belated sympathies on the passing of your mother Maureen. She will be remembered well, as was a special part of my life for many years, and I will always remember the beautiful bridesmaid’s dresses that she made for my wedding in 1968. May God bless and may she rest in peace. My thoughts are with all the family. Rochelle Callaway