Nora KIRK

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KIRK: Nora Kirk passed away peacefully with family at her side at the Sherwood Personal Care home in Virden on October 23, 2018 at age 94. Nora was born in Hamiota on July 30, 1924, the youngest of the three children of Clarence and Gladys Fraser. Her father was killed in a farming accident in 1925, so Gladys and her children Phyllis, Clark and Nora moved to Hamiota from the farm, and in 1927 Gladys’ mother, Mrs. Nellie (John) Houck, moved in with the family. With these two strong ladies in her life, she grew up to be an independent young woman. Her younger years were filled with time spent with her siblings and Houck, Fraser and Sheardown cousins. She loved spending time at Shoal Lake during the summer, a love that continued throughout her life. Music was also a large part of her life, singing in festivals and church choirs as well as playing the cello. She completed her education at Hamiota School and then went on to Normal training in Brandon. She taught for three years at Douglas, one year at Hargrave and three years in Hamiota before she married. As teachers, Nora and her mother spent their summers touring. They purchased a bus pass that allowed travel throughout the U.S. and Canada and saw much of the northern states and California. As with many families of the time, they were devastated by the death of Clark in World War II. On November 26, 1949, she married a young Hamiota farmer, Alex Kirk, and they enjoyed 58 years together. They had three daughters, Barb, Karen and Jody. In the early 60’s Alex and Nora cleared a lot and built a cabin at Burlington Beach at the south end of Shoal Lake, and since then, the family has spent time at the cabin each summer. Nora returned to teaching after the girls were born. She was involved with music in the school, leading choirs for festival, working with the glee club and creating costumes for the musicals. In her later years at HCI, she served as librarian and teacher aide. She always had time for students and was a great listener. Nora was very busy in the community, as well. In addition to following her daughters’ activities, she was an avid curler, was heavily involved with the Birdtail River Festival, organized school work at the Hamiota Fair, worked with the School Band Program and was a member of the church choir. She did lots of sewing for her family and community members. She served on Centennial committees and was a member of the board of the Hamiota Foundation. After she and Alex moved to town after selling the farm, she made good friends with her neighbours and enjoyed the cross country ski trails in the winter. After her retirement, Nora spent many hours at the Hamiota Golf Course, often playing 18 holes of golf a day and helping at tournaments. She took up bridge and loved the game and the fellowship. She also enjoyed outings with the Red Hat group and the bowling crew who took her to Minnedosa weekly. She was pleased to be nominated as a Westman Woman of Distinction, and was a life member of the Hamiota Curling Club and Manitoba Association of Arts Festivals. She received the Lions Club Dedicated Humanitarian Services Lions Club International Foundation Award and received the Doug Mitchell trophy for her work at the golf course. Her love of travel continued with trips to Las Vegas, Arizona, Texas, Mexico, Florida and Hawaii with family. There was nothing Nora enjoyed more than spending time with family. As the girls married and had families of their own, grandchildren and then great-grandchildren became a focus in her life. She always found time to spend with each one individually and enjoyed watching them grow up. Summers were still spent at the lake in a cabin packed with kids. Grandma Nora always had lots of home-baked goodies - chocolate chip cookies, cakes and her famous ‘black cookies’. When Alex moved into Birch Lodge, she spent a few hours there almost every day until he passed away in 2008. He was never really happy if she was away, and he asked about her every day until she returned. Nora moved into Lilac Residence in 2014 and was fortunate to have good friends there who always checked in on her and made sure she returned from her long walks. She enjoyed her home care workers who helped her daily, allowing her to live on her own. In 2016, she moved to the Sherwood home in Virden where she had a new group of people to provide her with good care and companionship. Staff members always commented on how happy and easy-going she was. Their kindness, care and respect were much appreciated, especially during her final days. Nora was predeceased by her husband, Alex, parents Clarence and Gladys, brother Clark, sister Phyllis and brother-in-law John. She is lovingly remembered by her daughters Barb (Bruce) Penton, Karen (Brian) Mathison, and Jody (Ryan) Davison; grandchildren, Kirk (Sarah) Penton, Kate (Scott) Overes, Christine Penton, Angela (Mike Plantinga) Mathison, Adam Mathison, Dan (Virginia) Mathison, Evan (Diana) Davison, Trent (Erin) Davison and Diana (Stew) Moffatt; great-grandchildren Zach and Oliver Penton, Hope and Luke Mathison-Lindsey, Maci Mathison, Blake and Jaxon Mathison, and Sophia and Ben Davison, her sister-in-law Mae Lints, and nieces and nephews. A service to celebrate Nora’s life will be held at the Hamiota United Church, Hamiota, MB on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. Interment will take place at the Hamiota Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. A reception will take place at the Hamiota Community Centre immediately following the church service. For those so desiring, donations may be made in Nora’s memory to Hamiota Community Foundation Inc., Box 100, Hamiota, MB, R0M 0T0; to Hamiota United Church Memorial Fund, Hamiota, MB, R0M 0T0; or to a charity of one’s choice.Messages of condolencemay be shared atwww.campbellfuneralhome.caCampbell Funeral Home, Hamiota, are in care of the arrangements. (866) 620-2744.

As published in Brandon Sun on Nov 03, 2018