Marie Margaret Metcalfe was born August 27, 1912 in Victoria, BC the daughter of Samuel Carson Thompson Metcalfe and Annie Laurie McLeod Metcalfe. She passed away quietly on August 19, 2011 in Fort Macleod, Alberta eight days shy of her 99th birthday. She was born into a pioneer family, her mother and younger sister passed away during the 1919 influenza epidemic, leaving Marie and her two younger brothers to the care of their maternal grandparents, John A and Annie Jane McLeod. Her early years were spent between Victoria, Athabasca, High Prairie and Denver, Colorado settling in High Prairie in 1924 where she strengthend her ties to her maternal Aunt C. Arabelle Lebans and the seven Lebans cousins. In 1928 Marie met Frank Pratt and they were married in 1933 at High Prairie, Alberta where they farmed until October of 1935, when at the urging of their friend Ernie Moffitt they relocated to Trail, BC. All four of Marie’s children were born and raised in Trail, the family residing happily atop Shaver’s Bench until Frank’s passing in 1964. In 1966 Marie relocated to New Westminster, BC then Burnaby, BC until 1981 when she moved to Fort Macleod, Alberta. Marie remained with her family there until 1990 when she went back to Trail and Christina Lake, BC until 1995 at which time she returned to Fort Macleod where she continued to reside with her family until 2000 when she moved to the Pioneer Lodge, residing there happily until 2007 when she made her final change of residence, moving to the Fort Macleod Extendicare where she lived and was well cared for until her passing.
Marie, Grannie to some, spent her life teaching her descendents and others to appreciate the world about them, music, dance and the effort required to develop and share talent when gifted. She loved to travel and saw Canada from Vancouver Island to Prince Edward Island as well as the Western United States including Hawaii. In her last years she expressed regret that she hadn’t traveled more.
Marie was predeceased by her beloved husband, Frank (1964), her daughter, Doreen Anne Forlin (1995), her son, Frank John Pratt (2010), her brothers Edward and Wilfred Metcalfe and their spouses Ella and Margaret, Frank’s siblings Edward and Gordon Pratt, Mabel Salter and Kathleen Jacklin and their spouses, her cousins, Donald and Ralph Lebans and Edward and Angus Sherrington, her great grandson Wade Evan Storvold, her beloved niece Mary Lou and nephews, Damon and Mark Metcalfe, her sons in law, Frank Dietrich and Albert Baldissera as well as many other treasured family and friends.
Marie is survived by her daughter’s Laura Baldassi and Catherine Dietrich of Fort Macleod, AB, her 15 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, 9 great great grandchildren, her daughter-in-law Diane Pratt of Christina Lake, BC, sons-in-law Louis Forlin of Kelowna, BC and Bob Baldassi of Cranbrook, BC, numerous well loved nephews, nieces and cousins spanning 5 generations, as well as friends young and old from all periods of her life.
Marie’s ashes will be laid to rest with her husband Frank at the Mountainview Cemetery in Trail, BC on September 16, 2011 at 2:30 p.m. The graveside service will be officiated by Brian J. Shields a lifelong family friend. May she Rest in Peace. Family and Friends are invited to the graveside service followed by a memorial gathering at the home of Dan and Lana Rodlie in Trail, BC. For more information call 250-368-9227 or 403-892-3997.
If desired, Memorial Donation’s in Marie’s memory may be given to a local charity of the donor’s choice.
Funeral Arrangements entrusted to Eden’s Funeral Home, P.O. Box 755, 2424-5th Ave., Fort Macleod, AB, T0L 0Z0, 403-553-3772 or www.edensfuneralhome.com.