EVELYN ASHFORD

“Aunt” Margaret Evelyn Ashford passed away peacefully on May 19, 2015 at the Atikokan General Hospital in Atikokan, Ont.
Born in Hamilton, Ont. on Dec. 22, 1927, Evelyn worked as a nurse at Atikokan General Hospital from 1954 until her retirement in 1984 as Director of Nursing.
An alumnae of St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in Hamilton, she had an exemplary 30-year career.
Evelyn was active in her community, civic-minded, and recognized for her contributions. She was recipient of the Ontario Horticultural Society President’s Award, (1996) and the Ontario Horticultural Society District Service Award (2001).
A founding member of the Atikokan Horticultural Society, Evelyn was an active member for 30 years. She was recognized by the Atikokan Public Library in 2002 for her efforts to enhance the interior with indoor plants, which she cared for faithfully, and her service to the community.
Evelyn delivered books to those who could not come the library.
She also was awarded the Pembina Ladies’ Invitational Bonspiel award for 40 years of consecutive participation and attendance. Evelyn was recognized by the Canadian Curling Association for her love of the game, and attendance at Canadian and world events, in 2015.
With her parents, she travelled to the east and west coasts of Canada, and destinations in the U.S.
Following the World Curling Circuit for a period of 12 years, she ventured into many countries: Sweden to Russia, across Canada, Germany, and Scotland. Other vacations took her to Greenland, the Northwest Passage, Iceland, Barbados, Jamaica, and the Turks and Caicos.
Her first big trip was to Antarctica, where she sat among the penguins.
She was an avid outdoors woman who enjoyed fishing, cross-country skiing, and gardening, as well as off-roading in an Argo four-wheeler.
Evelyn is survived by her close friends, Jim Blunderfield, the Rechlin family, Alana, Wolf, and Tamara, and her many lifetime friends in Atikokan and southern Ontario.
Evelyn was predeceased by her parents, Lee Ashford, in 1968, and Beatrice Beaumont in 1984; as well as her close friend, Margaret Akins, in 1994.
A celebration of Evelyn’s life will be held Thursday, June 18, 2015 at 11 a.m. at the Church of The Good Shepherd, followed by a luncheon at the Royal Canadian Legion in Atikokan.
In lieu of flowers, in memoriam donations may be made to the Royal Canadian Legion in Atikokan, the Atikokan Public Library, the Atikokan Centennial Museum, or Homeward Bound Animal Rescue.