Louisa Walker
1908-10-23 2006-02-17
WALKER - Louisa Esson (McKenzie, nee Brown)
Born October 23, 1908 in County Forfar, Scotland, died February 17, 2006. After a long life Louise passed away peacefully in February at age 97 at Spruce Manor Special Care Home in Dalmeny, SK.
She was the first born child of Robert and Joan Davina (Nicoll) Brown. In September 1911, Louise, her sister Anne and their mother emigrated to Dundurn, SK where they joined their father who had come over in 1910. The family expanded to include a brother, William (Buster) in 1913. Several of her father's siblings and their families lived in the same area so Louise had many cousins and their families who remained close throughout her life. After the death of her father at Vimy Ridge in 1917 the family moved permanently to Saskatoon. Some years later Joan remarried to George Simpson and Louise and her siblings gained step-cousins.
After completing public school Louise took her high school years at Bedford Road Collegiate where she acquired business and secretarial skills. She started working as a clerk-steno with Bowman Bros. and remained there until her marriage in December, 1939 to Flight Sgt. Ross McKenzie. Ross and Louise moved to the training base at Dafoe, SK. After the war they returned to Saskatoon and soon moved to 621 Avenue K South where Louise resided until August, 2002.
A few years into their marriage Ross and Louise adopted his young nephew Donnie McKenzie who had come to live with them. Ross joined his father's plumbing business, Saskatoon Plumbing and Heating and Louise worked in the office. After the death of Ross in 1953 she ran the shop for a few years with the help of employees. When the business closed she returned to Bowman Bros. and remained working there until her retirement.
In June of 1958 Louise was remarried to Andrew (Andy) Walker and he joined her and her mother at the house on Avenue K. After the death of her mother in 1962 and later after Andy's death Louise continued to live in the home she loved until the age of 93 when a debilitating stroke forced her into care. Louise or Louie as she was affectionately known cherished her friendships with extended family and friends and kept in touch by telephone or her lovely cards and letters.
Over her life she had enjoyed sports and had participated in curling. She was a staunch supporter of the Legion Womens Auxiliary and was a long time member of St. Thomas Wesley United Church. For many years she enjoyed her garden and flowers. She had a quick wit and loved a good time visiting or playing cards. Life was not always easy for Louise but she was resilient and tough and always pulled through. She was generous and loyal but would be quick to set you straight if she thought you needed to be set straight. She was a strong and vital link in her family.
Louise was predeceased by her parents Robert and Joan Brown (Simpson), her stepfather George Simpson, husbands Ross McKenzie and Andy Walker, step-son Norman McKenzie and son Donnie McKenzie. Also predeceasing her were her sister and brother-in-law Anne and Charles DesRosier, her brother and sister-in-law William (Buster) and Pearl Brown.
Surviving Louise are her daughter-in-law Sunee McKenzie and grandchildren Melissa and Christopher as well as Donnie's children by his first wife, David, Heather, and Brian McKenzie and their families in Quebec; Norman's wife Emily McKenzie and her family in BC; Anne's children Patricia Quinlan (Paul) and Gord DesRosiers (Cathy) and their families in Ontario; Buster's daughter Lynn Hildebrandt (Hank) and their family in BC; dear friend Sandy McLean (Lyle Dyck) and their family in BC. Louise is also survived by nieces and nephews on Ross and Andy's sides and by her Dundurn cousins and their families as well as Australian relatives on her mother's side and step-cousins on the George Simpson side.
In her last few years her care was overseen by her nephew on Ross McKenzie's side, Marty Irwin. We are grateful for the love and care given to Louie over many years by Sandy McLean and especially for her help and guidance over these last few years. She was not only Louie's former neighbor but was like a daughter to her. Thanks also to the staff of Spruce Manor for their gentle, loving care of Louise in the last stages of her life.
Interment of Cremains will take place Saturday, June 3, 2006. Family and friends are invited to a remembrance lunch and tea at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, June 3, 2006 in the South Dining Room at the Parktown Motor Hotel on 25th Street and Spadina Crescent. For further information call Lorie or Marty at (306) 242-2435.
Born October 23, 1908 in County Forfar, Scotland, died February 17, 2006. After a long life Louise passed away peacefully in February at age 97 at Spruce Manor Special Care Home in Dalmeny, SK.
She was the first born child of Robert and Joan Davina (Nicoll) Brown. In September 1911, Louise, her sister Anne and their mother emigrated to Dundurn, SK where they joined their father who had come over in 1910. The family expanded to include a brother, William (Buster) in 1913. Several of her father's siblings and their families lived in the same area so Louise had many cousins and their families who remained close throughout her life. After the death of her father at Vimy Ridge in 1917 the family moved permanently to Saskatoon. Some years later Joan remarried to George Simpson and Louise and her siblings gained step-cousins.
After completing public school Louise took her high school years at Bedford Road Collegiate where she acquired business and secretarial skills. She started working as a clerk-steno with Bowman Bros. and remained there until her marriage in December, 1939 to Flight Sgt. Ross McKenzie. Ross and Louise moved to the training base at Dafoe, SK. After the war they returned to Saskatoon and soon moved to 621 Avenue K South where Louise resided until August, 2002.
A few years into their marriage Ross and Louise adopted his young nephew Donnie McKenzie who had come to live with them. Ross joined his father's plumbing business, Saskatoon Plumbing and Heating and Louise worked in the office. After the death of Ross in 1953 she ran the shop for a few years with the help of employees. When the business closed she returned to Bowman Bros. and remained working there until her retirement.
In June of 1958 Louise was remarried to Andrew (Andy) Walker and he joined her and her mother at the house on Avenue K. After the death of her mother in 1962 and later after Andy's death Louise continued to live in the home she loved until the age of 93 when a debilitating stroke forced her into care. Louise or Louie as she was affectionately known cherished her friendships with extended family and friends and kept in touch by telephone or her lovely cards and letters.
Over her life she had enjoyed sports and had participated in curling. She was a staunch supporter of the Legion Womens Auxiliary and was a long time member of St. Thomas Wesley United Church. For many years she enjoyed her garden and flowers. She had a quick wit and loved a good time visiting or playing cards. Life was not always easy for Louise but she was resilient and tough and always pulled through. She was generous and loyal but would be quick to set you straight if she thought you needed to be set straight. She was a strong and vital link in her family.
Louise was predeceased by her parents Robert and Joan Brown (Simpson), her stepfather George Simpson, husbands Ross McKenzie and Andy Walker, step-son Norman McKenzie and son Donnie McKenzie. Also predeceasing her were her sister and brother-in-law Anne and Charles DesRosier, her brother and sister-in-law William (Buster) and Pearl Brown.
Surviving Louise are her daughter-in-law Sunee McKenzie and grandchildren Melissa and Christopher as well as Donnie's children by his first wife, David, Heather, and Brian McKenzie and their families in Quebec; Norman's wife Emily McKenzie and her family in BC; Anne's children Patricia Quinlan (Paul) and Gord DesRosiers (Cathy) and their families in Ontario; Buster's daughter Lynn Hildebrandt (Hank) and their family in BC; dear friend Sandy McLean (Lyle Dyck) and their family in BC. Louise is also survived by nieces and nephews on Ross and Andy's sides and by her Dundurn cousins and their families as well as Australian relatives on her mother's side and step-cousins on the George Simpson side.
In her last few years her care was overseen by her nephew on Ross McKenzie's side, Marty Irwin. We are grateful for the love and care given to Louie over many years by Sandy McLean and especially for her help and guidance over these last few years. She was not only Louie's former neighbor but was like a daughter to her. Thanks also to the staff of Spruce Manor for their gentle, loving care of Louise in the last stages of her life.
Interment of Cremains will take place Saturday, June 3, 2006. Family and friends are invited to a remembrance lunch and tea at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, June 3, 2006 in the South Dining Room at the Parktown Motor Hotel on 25th Street and Spadina Crescent. For further information call Lorie or Marty at (306) 242-2435.