MARGARET C. McLEOD

Margaret Cowper McLeod, 89, a resident of Emo, Ont., passed away Thursday, Jan. 20, 2000 at the Emo Hospital in Emo.
Margaret, the first child and eldest daughter of William and Mary Ann (Ferguson) McQuaker, was born Thursday, Sept. 29, 1910 in her parents’ home in Dilke Township.
She started her schooling in Pinewood, and continued and completed her elementary education at SS#8 Pattullo when her family homesteaded north of Stratton.
Marg remembered with fondness her involvement in such social events as Christmas concerts. Throughout her life, she enjoyed performing, and could recite monologues and poetry with ease.
At the age of 18, she answered an advertisement for farm workers and went west to work for families who lived in western Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan. She also worked in Winnipeg and Regina doing day work during the winter months.
In 1940, she met Bill (William James) McLeod while working for the Art Smith family north of Barwick.
Marg and Bill were married Thursday, May 1, 1941 in the United Church Manse in Emo. They made their first home north of Black Hawk in a small log cabin. From 1942 to 1946, while Bill was in the army, Marg and their son, Rod, lived in Emo.
The family returned to farm in Black Hawk when Bill was discharged from the army in 1946. Ten years later, the family moved back to Emo to their present home on King Street, where Marg lived until her death last week.
In the late 50s and early 60s, Marg operated a small restaurant, “The Coffee Cup,” across from Norlund’s Service Station. She was an active member of the Women’s Institute while living in both Black Hawk and Emo, serving in several executive positions.
Marg also was a certified Red Cross Home Care Worker, and volunteered for Meals on Wheels. She was active in political activities, working as DRO or Poll Clerk in a number of federal and provincial elections, walking from Fort Frances in support of Rev. Harvey Moates’ campaign, and actively campaigning for adequate local health care for the residents of Emo and surrounding area.
She and Bill opened their home to foster children. Marg enjoyed working with young people, and was an advisor to the “Emo Teen Town” for a number of years. To others, she was known as “Ma, the Cook” at the Sunny Cove United Church summer camps.
Her door always was open to family and friends for a cup of coffee and opportunity to visit.
Marg loved to bake! By family and friends, she will be remembered for her Christmas cakes and shortbread cookies. Since Bill’s death, she busied herself with quilt-making. The finished products became colourful, warm gifts of love for family and friends on special occasions such as marriages, births, and anniversaries, and a number were donated to the less fortunate and those in need.
She was predeceased by her brother, Norman, in 1945; two infant daughters, Christine (1943) and Evangeline (1949); two infant sons, Peter (1945) and James (1951); parents, William (1955) and Annie (1976); granddaughter, Gillian (1968), husband, Bill (1994); great-granddaughter, Rachel Hunter (1994); and two sisters, Hazel Morken (1978) and Mary Olson (1999).
Margaret is survived by her two sons, Roderick Wm. and Donna of Thunder Bay, Ont., and Ronald Norman and Leslie of Regina, Sask; eight grandchildren, Joe, and Andrea of Winnipeg, Sean (Tobi) of Lethbridge, Patricia Jean (Jay Richardson) and Elin of Calgary, and Ross (Chris), Owen (Stacey), and Seth of Regina; 14 great-grandchildren, Christie and Skye Hunter, E.J., Rory, Sydney, and Mckenzie Richardson, Mary-Margaret and Emma McLeod, Sarah Shick, Nolan and Lance McLeod, Alexander Worral, and Tracey and Landon Mead; one sister, Isobel Miles of Thunder Bay, Ont.; three brothers, William (Azaela) McQuaker of Fort Frances, Carson (Iris) McQuaker of Stratton, and Ronald (Joyce) McQuaker of Emo; sister-in-law, Elizabeth (McLeod) Langstaff of Sudbury; brother-in-law, Peter Morken of Spohn; and numerous nieces and nephews, great and great-great-nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Monday, Jan. 24, 2000 at the Knox United Church in Emo, with Miriam Bowlby officiating.
Pallbearers were Marg’s grandsons, Sean, Ross, Owen, and Seth McLeod, and great-nephews, Andrew McQuaker and Jon-Paul Winik.
Honourary pallbearers were Ella Carruthers, Alice Kellar, Jim McQuaker, Lawrence McLeod, Jack Winik, Milton Guba, Doug Hodge, and Jim Wilson.
In memoriam donations may be sent to the Emo Hospital Renovation Fund, c/o The Emo Hospital, 260 Front St, Emo, Ont., P0W 1E0.