Obituary
Gaye Mackie (née Mowbray) passed away on Thursday, February 3, 2022, at 80 years. She is survived by her son Russell (Antoinnette); granddaughters Sienna and Tia; son Daniel (Guiselle), daughter Robyn; grandson Kelby as well as her sister Jill (Bob), and brother Drew, brothers-in-law Bill (Tone) and Tim (Jan). She was predeceased by her beloved husband Bob, her parents William and Eleanor Mowbray, and her in-laws: William, Thelma, Jamie, and Bliss Mackie.
Gaye was born in Calgary, Alberta on April 1, 1941. She attended Balmoral School and Crescent Heights High School. She went into nursing at the Holy Cross Hospital for two years. After realizing she could not stand the blood and all, she left the training and married Robert (Bob) years after meeting him working at Woolworth’s downtown when she was 17.
Gaye had a great love for her collections of flamingos, bells, and mostly angels. She strongly believed in the power of guardian angels – she gave many people angel cards that she made by hand. As a strong believer in spiritual healing, she became a certified Reiki therapist.
For decades, she had demonstrated her exceptional skills in calligraphy, which secured her a life-long membership with the Bow Valley Calligraphy Guild where she met many of her forever friends. People had enjoyed receiving her annual hand-made Christmas cards as well as birthday cards, anniversary cards, etc. She taught many calligraphy classes and workshops.
Being a proud Balmoral Elementary School alumni, she sat on the committee for the Balmoral Grade 6 reunion and even wrote a book about the reunion. Gaye and Bob had been advocates for their daughter, Robyn. They advocated along with other parents to ensure Sign Language access at Queen Elizabeth Elementary School where Deaf students attended. Gaye also sat on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Executive Board for several years.
She travelled the world with Bob, mostly by cruise ship, after he retired from his position with PanCanadian Petroleum in the Oil and Gas pipeline regulatory industry. They enjoyed golfing, living at their cabin in Windermere, B.C. then their condo in Radium Hot Springs, B.C. during the summer months, and visiting their grandchildren. Whenever it came to playing rounds of Yazhtee, pretty much nobody stood a chance against her.
For years, Gaye had been a volunteer for Heart and Stroke Foundation, knocking on countless doors to collect money for the organization. The irony is that, in 2017, she became a victim of a stroke that left her as an aphasia sufferer. Such disease robbed her the ability to speak and understand spoken language clearly, however, Sign Language was her saving grace as well as Bob who became her caregiver. He got creative in various ways of communicating such as carrying a small whiteboard with him. She was able to experience during the final years of her life what her daughter has experienced all her life.
She will be greatly missed, by all.
A celebration of Gaye’s life will be held at a later date. On her behalf, please consider a donation to the Salvation Army Agape Hospice.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Maureen Gaye Mackie, please visit our floral store.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Maureen Gaye Mackie April 1 1941 February 3 2022 (age 80)..
Death notice for the town of: Calgary, Province: Alberta