Peacefully at the Stonewall Hospital, Patricia Appleyard of Stonewall passed away on September 28, 2018 at the age of 86. Mom will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by her three surviving sons; Wayne (Cyndi) and their sons Bryan and Myles (Ashley), Larry (Lindy) and their sons Nevin (Maddie) and Brett, Vernon (Darlene) and their sons Curtis and Tyler (Maria), and her daughter-in law Ali, and Ali and Kevin’s sons Conner and Dru (Jenny) and their baby daughter Aria. Mom is also survived by her sisters Irene Coleman of Morden and Shirley King of Stonewall as well as sisters-in-law Audrey McFee of Winnipeg, Edith McFee of Regina and Bev McFee of Sioux Lookout, numerous nieces and nephews, many close friends, and her special lifetime family friend Donna Ward of Stonewall. Mom was predeceased by her husband of 51 years, Donald Appleyard in 2006, infant son Keith in 1962, son Lyn in 1993 and son Kevin in 2017. She was also predeceased by sister Betty Lindsay and husband Charlie, sister Ruby Stewart and husband Murray, brothers Art McFee, Ron McFee, and Keith McFee, as well as brothers-in law Frank McElroy, Ron King and Gerald Coleman and nephew Les McFee.
Mom was born in Winnipeg, one of eight children to Carl and Pearl McFee, and grew up on the McFee family farm west of Grosse Isle, Manitoba. Mom finished grade 12 in Stonewall, and following her graduation moved to Lundar, Manitoba and taught school on a teacher permit before attending teacher college (Normal School) in Winnipeg. Mom taught school in the Tecumseh one room school in the Grassmere District south of Stonewall. Mom gave up teaching when she and Dad were married in 1954 and began to raise their family of boys in their house in Stonewall, where she remained living until her passing. Mom was an active member of the Rebecca Lodge in Stonewall. She was also an elder and dedicated member of Knox Presbyterian Church in Stonewall prior to its closing, when she began to attend the Anglican Church of Ascension. Mom loved to curl and bowl and she and Dad took great pride in maintaining their beautiful yard at their house in Stonewall. They also enjoyed many summers with friends and family at their cottage in Grand Marais. Mom and Dad were fortunate enough to be able to winter travel in retirement throughout the world with friends and family, but Stonewall was always home. Mom’s greatest joy was gathering with family in the McFee tradition, and took special pride in her sons and their wives along with all her grandsons and most recently her new great granddaughter. The fuller the house the happier she was. Mom loved to bake and the cookie jar was always full. Mom loved to play cards with her grandsons and no get together was complete without the mandatory game of 31, chase the ace or wizard. We say goodbye to a wonderful mother and grandmother who endured, despite the devastating losses in her life.
Funeral service will be held Thursday, October 4, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at MacKenzie Funeral Chapel, Stonewall, Manitoba. Reverend James Bardsley officiating. Pallbearers will be her grandsons Nevin, Bryan, Conner, Dru, Myles and Brett Appleyard and Curtis and Tyler Jenkins.
The family would like to thank Dr. Venter and the staff of nurses and aides at the Stonewall Hospital for their compassionate care of our Mom. We would also like to thank the numerous homecare workers who helped Mom be able to stay in her home where she was so comfortable. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mom’s memory to CancerCare Manitoba Foundation to fight a disease that has so affected our family, or any charity of choice.