Edith Eleanor McIntyre (nee Simmons)

of Kamloops, BC passed away on January 3, 2015 at 78 years of age.  Edith is survived by her husband of 59 years, Ken McIntyre; her children:  James (Carmen) McIntyre, Beverly (Randy) Blumer, Brenda (Brent) Eger; her grandchildren:  Taylor McIntyre, Matthew (Marilia) & Zachary Blumer, Sondra & Evan Eger, and siblings:  Arnold (Cathy) Simmons, Gary (Carol) Simmons and Ken (Barb) Simmons.  Edith was pre-deceased by her parents, George & Elizabeth Simmons of Edson, AB and her beloved sister, Doreen Werzun.

Edith started her life on the family homestead north of Peers, Alberta, and later moved to the Coal Branch area where her father found work in the lumber mills and her mother served as camp cook.  When Edith was old enough to attend high school, she had to move into Edson to live with her Aunt’s family.  She married Ken in 1955 and they bought their first home in Coal Valley and moved it by flatbed truck into Edson.  She & Ken lived in Edson, Calgary, Smithers, Prince George, Winnipeg and Edmonton over the course of the 30+ years that Ken worked on the railroad.  Edith was so proud of all her children and grandchildren, whom she loved fiercely and for whom she would do anything.

Edith worked almost 30 years with Sears Canada, starting in Prince George and retiring in 1992 in Kamloops, where she had moved with Ken when he retired from CNR in 1989.  Edith was a people person-making friends easily wherever she went.  Georgie Berry and Donna Olesen were special ‘Sears’ friends and there have been many ‘railroad’ and ‘travel’ and ‘golf’ friends who have remained close throughout the years.  She was truly grateful for friends Don & Jeanne McDonald and Howard & Leona Swaren, and all the wonderful neighbors at ‘The Villas’ who were so supportive during her illness.

Edith put her entire effort into everything she did and was never satisfied with “good enough”.  She was known for her spotless home and always ‘put-together’ appearance.  Travel and golf filled her retirement years.  She cherished her time spent on the golf course with Ken and good  friends during her many years volunteering with her Ladies’ League and the BC Golf Association. Travels took Ken & Edith around the world with fabulous tours of Europe, Australia, South America and Asia, as well as many cruises and extended RV & golfing jaunts around North America until she was stricken with ALS in 2012.  She was so pleased to have enjoyed a family cruise to Alaska with her children & grandchildren in 2012 and one last visit to Hawaii with Ken in 2013.  Edith loved the challenge of a good golf tournament, and brought home more than her fair share of hardware, even winning her club’s Sr. Ladies in 2013 while battling ALS.  She fought hard to the end, never complaining and always concerned for the rest of her family.

The family is also grateful for the compassionate care Edith received from Dr. Calder & Rebecca, the ALS Society of BC and the wonderful staff at the Marjorie Snowden Willoughby Hospice in Kamloops.  Please consider donations to ALS Society of BC or the Kamloops Hospice Association in lieu of flowers.  A Celebration of Life will be held at The Dunes clubhouse on Saturday, January 17th at 2:00 PM.