Ruby POWNE

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POWNE: Ruby Myrtle Powne (nee Ferguson) passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 26, 2012, leaving to celebrate her life daughter Lois Powne of Winnipeg; son Doug of Brandon; grandson Jim (Naomi); great grandson Anthony of Brandon; granddaughter Krista (Scott Dreger) and great grandchildren Bailey and Jordyn of Martensville, Saskatchewan as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was predeceased by her husband Cecil in 1974; mother Myrtle (nee Perrin) in 1985, father Walter in 1954 and infant sister Beryl in 1921. Ruby was born on the family farm at Goodlands, Manitoba on June 29, 1918. She received her schooling at Lennox School, Goodlands, then attended Brandon College and Brandon Normal School. After completing her studies in 1939, Ruby taught at Bluevale, Reston and Deloraine Schools. In 1945, Ruby married Cecil Powne of Goodlands and after a brief period in Ottawa, where Cecil worked for the Federal Government, they returned to Goodlands to take up farming on the Ferguson family farm and to begin raising their family. Along with the usual farm activities, Ruby returned to teaching in 1956. She taught for the next ten years, first returning to Deloraine, then four years in Goodlands and ending at the Montefore school. During her time in Goodlands, Ruby was active in many community groups. She was organist and choir director at Goodlands United Church for 25 years and a leader of the Church Mission Board, the school Junior Red Cross and the Goodlands 4-H Club. She was also one of the ladies entrusted to cook a turkey for the community’s annual Fowl Supper. An avid curler, Ruby often curled in the local mixed Bonspiel (on Cecil’s rink, of course). In 1968, the family moved to Brandon. Ruby became involved in many activities at Knox United Church, serving on committees, visiting new families and those in nursing homes. She was leader of Chapel Fellowship Unit for many years and an active participant at Busy-Hands Quilting, making crib quilts and knitting hundreds of pairs of mitts for local charities and shelters. After Cecil’s death in a traffic accident in 1974, Ruby began to research the family history. Over the years, she discovered many connections in far-flung corners of the globe and has enjoyed a long and rich correspondence with many of her new found cousins. Ruby was an avid gardener. Her vegetable garden produced bountifully and she took great pride in her many varieties of flowers. Ruby’s health began to decline in 2011. After a series of strokes and a diagnosis of colon cancer, Ruby was admitted to the Assiniboine Centre in April 2012, where she received generous and compassionate care from the staff. The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to Ruby’s doctors and all her care givers. Funeral Service will be held at Knox United Church, 451 18th Street, Brandon on Thursday, January 3, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. Rev. Craig Miller will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family ask that donations in memory of Ruby be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, 3-824 18th Street, Brandon, Manitoba R7A 5B7, the Canadian Cancer Society – Manitoba Division, 415-1st Street, Brandon, Manitoba R7A 2W8, Knox United Church, 451 18th Street, Brandon, Manitoba R7A 5A9 or the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation – Assiniboine Centre, 150 McTavish Avenue East, Brandon, Manitoba R7A 2B3. Expressions of sympathy may be made atwww.memorieschapel.com. Arrangements with Memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre,204-727-0330

As published in Brandon Sun on Dec 29, 2012