Barbara Frances Davie

Barbara Frances Davie

August 5, 1927 - October 15, 2019

Barb was born August 5, 1927 in Shoal Lake, MB to parents Ella and George Children, who immigrated from England. Barbara grew up with her family in many communities in MB, and she loved spending time swimming with her family at their cottage at Beaver Lake. As a teenager, the family moved from Flin Flon to Ottawa to help with the war effort. She often spoke about her high school days in Ottawa spent watching football games and helping in the orchards after long bike rides out from the city.

In Ottawa, Barb was blessed with two daughters, Margaret and Lynn. She returned to Manitoba to be closer to her family in 1950, where she eventually moved to Neepawa and met Roy Davie. She and Roy married in 1955, and two more children, Charlotte and Lawson, joined the family. Barbara became a farm wife; driving combines, trucks, tending livestock, and enlisting her father to help with her garden. Every year, the family would spend many afternoons swimming at Lake Irwin or enjoy a week of holidays at her sister Dorothy's cottage at Salt Lake. Barbara was an active member of the Dumfries community, including the Dumfries WI where a lot of friendships were forged. Social life revolved around getting together with neighbours to play cards,　WI meetings, school events, and watching baseball games. In the winter, Sundays meant bridge in the afternoon with Grandma and Grandpa Children, suppers of roast beef or lamb, and poker in the evening hours with Grandma and Grandpa Davie. Barb loved these times with her family.

Sports were always a big part of Barbara's life. Barbara got involved with baseball in Neepawa as a dedicated fan when Roy was playing and coaching the Farmers and continued to be actively involved as her children and grandchildren played the game over the years. She was an official scorekeeper for the MSBL starting in 1977 and continued in that role for over 25 years. She received recognition from the MSBL for her dedication to the sport of baseball in Neepawa during that time.

Bowling was a passion of Barbara and Roy's every winter. Their Friday night mixed league was always followed by a party, cards, and a few drinks. They also traveled to tournaments in Brandon, Portage, and other communities with 10-pin lanes, and this continued even after Evans Lanes moved solely to 5-pins. Barb was the secretary of the 10-pin league in town, and even served as a Director of the Brandon Women's Bowling Association for a time. Any bowler who came to town for a tournament could count on great hospitality at Auntie Bert's "Blue Room" in a little house just adjacent to Evans Lanes that would eventually become Barb and Roy's home when they moved off the farm.

After Barb and Roy moved into town, she began to golf at the Neepawa Golf and Country Club. She loved getting together with her friends to golf, and particularly enjoyed taking her grandchildren for early morning golf. Many of her grandchildren got their start with the sport after going out for 9 holes with Grandma. A highlight of her golfing career was getting a hole-in-one with Mark and Michael in attendance, a milestone most of her children have not yet achieved.

Barb kept busy with many hobbies in her retirement. She loved duplicate bridge and played for many years. She and her bridge partner would travel to Minnedosa to play, and she and Roy played in a duplicate bridge league at the Yellowhead Manor that was started by her father. She was part of several ladies bridge groups over the years, and Barb enjoyed hosting with tea and cookies whenever she could. She was an avid reader and could often be found with her nose in a mystery novel. Barbara was also a talented seamstress and enjoyed knitting sweaters and other items for friends and family.

Barbara loved to travel. A few trips she particularly enjoyed were vacations to Great Britain with Roy and her sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy and Wallace. While there, she visited her brother, Dick, and his wife Betty at their dairy farm and met some of her relatives. She also enjoyed traveling with friends across the USA and Canada. Occasionally, Barb and Roy even traveled to ball tournaments with her niece, Darlene, in her husband Warren`s small passenger plane.

After her husband, Roy, passed away, Barb lived in Elks Manor for a time before moving to Country Meadows Personal Care Home in December, 2014. She received the best of care while at Country Meadows from all the dedicated and wonderful staff who loved and cared for her there. She enjoyed many visits with her friend Marsha, who had a special place in Barb's heart.

Barb is survived by her four children, Margaret (Bill) Johnson, Lynn (Jack) Elliott, Charlotte (Jim) Evanyshyn, and Lawson (Bev) Davie, as well as her special niece, Darlene Gillies, and many other nieces and nephews. What Barb valued most was time spent with her family. She had eleven grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren, who were always welcome at her home. Every one of Barb's grandchildren knew how much their Grandma loved them and how proud she was of them. She will always be remembered by her grandchildren for her accepting nature and unconditional love and support.

Funeral Service will be held at the Neepawa United Church on October 21, 2019.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice.

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