RATTRAY, Mary Margaret

  Notater:

Kilde: Ole H. Damgaard.

Obituary received from Ole Henning Damgaard in Denmark:

Marg Straarup ( Thursday, 11 Aug 2005 )
Mary Margaret (Marg) Straarup, named after her two grandmothers, was born February 13, 1920 in the Holy Cross Hospital in Calgary, Alberta. She was the eldest daughter of four children born to loving parents George and Edna Rattray. Margs sister, Evelyn Madge, resides in Calgary, Alberta, while the remaining siblings and parents were predeceased.
Margarets early school years were spent with her grandmother in Calgary, but she later returned to Killam, Alberta to finish her schooling with family. After completing school Margaret went to work in the local telephone office as a telephone agent. In the late 1930s she moved back to Calgary to work as a long distance operator for Alberta Government Telephones. Margaret worked 13 years for AGT and enjoyed her spare time with friends and colleagues. One of her favourite pastimes included taking trips to Banff National Park, where her group of friends would take horseback trips through the mountains. It was here that she developed her lifelong passion for horses, the outdoors and her many friends.
In 1950 Margaret met Andy Straarup. It only took the accomplished salesman a short time to convince Margaret that he was the one for her. They married in Calgary on May 12, 1951 and the following spring their eldest son, Blaine, was born. During the early years of their married life, they moved around constantly due to Andys work. However, they later settled back in Calgary where they adopted Wayne and Debbie Ann. With extra mouths to feed Margaret became a beauty counsellor, whipping around the city in her 1967 Datsun 1000. Being personable, Margaret had no problem getting her foot in the door, helping to beautify hundreds of Calgary women. Her small business became very successful. In 1973 Andy was transferred to Vancouver. Although sad to leave her loved ones in Calgary, Margaret, the ever-supportive wife, quickly made their new habitat a warm and loving home. In 1975 the family moved again to Salmon Arm and then finally settled in Williams Lake in 1977. This was truly the beginning of a long-lasting love affair as Margaret and Andy fell in love with Williams Lake. Both instantly became enthusiastically involved with their newfound community. As well as supporting Andy in his various positions, including president of the Williams Lake Kiwanis Club, Margaret continued her association with the Order of the Eastern Star, following her initial enrolment with the Fraser Chapter in 1975. February 20, 1978 she was recommended by Florie Woodland and Marjorie Blair to affiliate with the Williams Lake Chapter.
During her 30 years, Margaret was extremely dedicated in her involvement with the Cancer Dressing program, hosting various teas in her home and on the Sunshine Committee. She was proud to hold many stations that led up to Worthy Matron in 1986/87. Margaret held all her stations with dignity and grace. She was a tremendous supporter of all activities and fundraising events. Attending Grand Sessions was always enjoyable as Margaret met with her many sisters throughout the province. With Margarets attention to personal grooming, excellent taste in dressing, and always up to date with current hairstyles, it was no surprise that she acquired a job at Woodland Jewellers. Displays were her passion and satisfying the customer was her top priority. It was here that she developed many lifelong friends and was affectionately named The Marshall. Margaret was A Rare Gem, multi-facetted, she was very much a lady, extremely generous and compassionate, artistic, able to tell a good thigh-slapping joke, and enjoyed a good laugh, even at herself. She was always in a hurry and her driving skills could have won races on any racetrack. She could actually change gears in their short driveway! Very meticulous in everything she did, Margaret had cards for everybody, for every occasion, and they were always on time. She would leave one wondering how she kept track of all the events of every year. Many other cards had warm personal messages and often a poem, as she was a very accomplished poet. Although she had many health problems in her last few years, she never lost her sense of humour, her pride, nor her self-esteem and her love of life. Margaret will be sadly missed by her best friend and husband of 54 years, Andy: children Blaine (Anne), Wayne (Beulah), and Debbie Ann; grandchildren Pamela, Ross, Amanda and Derek; and many relatives and friends whom she loved dearly.


Foruden sønnen Blaine havde parret to adoptivbørn.

Mary blev gift med Andreas Hansen STRAARUP, søn af Nis Jakobsen STRAARUP og Mette Marie HANSEN, den 12.05.1951 i Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Andreas Hansen STRAARUP blev født den 16.12.1919 i Gelballe, Skanderup Sogn, Anst Herred, Ribe Amt, dåb den 11.01.1920 i Skanderup Kirke, Skanderup Sogn, Anst Herred, Ribe Amt og døde den 18.06.2013 i Brentwood Care Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.)

  Parnotater:

Kilde: Ole H. Damgaard.