MURIEL JESSIE (WHEELER) GARD
May 8, 1921 Kindersley, SK – December 22, 2022 Kelowna, BC
Muriel Jessie (Wheeler) Gard was the 5th of 8 children born to Wilfred and Malvina Wheeler.
Mom spent her early life in Kindersley graduating from Kindersley High School in the class of '39'. Her father owned/ operated a dry goods store while her mother managed a small boarding house business which catered to CN railway workers. Mom and her siblings were all put to work doing various tasks required in a boarding house. It was there that she met Ernie Gard, a lodger, in 193 7. Dad was dashing in appearance and fun to be around. He had all the attributes a young woman could ask for. They dated for several years until he summoned the courage to ask for her hand in marriage.
They were married in Kindersley in a lavish ceremony on June 25, 1941, and soon started a family with Penny being born in 1943. The war was growing in Europe and Dad enlisted with the RCAF. This resulted in much training and travel concerning his future role in the military. In 1944, Mom and Dad were expecting their second child, Trudy. Dad's RCAF service took him away prior to her birth, eventually taking him overseas. He did not see Trudy until she was two years old!
In 1949 Shelley was born. As the family grew they decided that they needed a home of their own. Three acres of land was obtained on the east side of Kindersley. Dad undertook to build a "sprawling" two-bedroom 800 square foot home. In 1951 the family moved in and their 4th child, Teddy arrived in 1952. That's when the mystery began - where did everyone sleep'? Six people in a two-bedroom house'? Construction began on two additional rooms in the basement!
As the children grew, money became tight. Mom suggested taking in lodgers to supplement the family income. Once Teddy was in school she got a full-time job at the Sears Catalogue Center and the lodgers were no longer needed.
In 1960 Dad was transferred by CN to Calgary. Mom was in shock leaving her hometown and extended family for the first time at the age of 39. The transition was difficult. On arrival in Calgary, she immediately began working in the accounting department of the local Sears.
In 1969, Dad was again transferred, this time to Vancouver. Mom once again continued her employment with Sears in Burnaby and soon after they became empty nesters.
It was then that Mom and Dad began a well-earned life of leisure and travel. They visited relatives in England, toured France and Belgium, cruised the seven seas and visited parts of the far east.
In 1976 they both had enough of work and retired to the peaceful community of Kelowna, which had a thriving CN pensioners group and many lifelong friends that had moved there. Mom jumped in and that formed their new social circle. This peace was only interrupted by Mom's regular need to visit her children and grandchildren in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario. Those frequent trips ended when Dad died.
Mom continued living a full and active life with friends, family and community activities until her health necessitated her move to a supportive living environment.
Mom was a beautiful loving wife and mother. She was a great cook with an outgoing personality and a terrific sense of humour. She was an independent woman (maybe a bit before her time!).
Mom was predeceased by Dad in 1995, son-in-law Mervin Smith in 2009, and most of her friends and siblings, except her sister, Mary Smith Ditson.
She will be missed by her four children: Penny Fraser (John), Trudy Smith, Shelley Wells (Derry), Ted Gard (Julie Hutchinson), her 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.