Obituary of Olive Potts

It is with sadness that the family announce Olive’s passing on January 19, 2013, at the age of 92, with her daughter and granddaughter by her side. Olive was born in Carievale, SK. May 15, 1920. In 1925 she moved, with her parents and brothers, Garnet and Clinton, to a farm four miles east of Blaine Lake. (Shortage of land and drought made farming difficult on the prairie) The family farmed at Blaine Lake until all attempts at expanding the farm failed. In 1936 they bought land north of Shell Lake. As her Mother had a very weak heart, many extra domestic duties fell to Olive. She also found time to help her Dad with haying. Life was not all work. She and her Dad played for dances at nearby Camp Lake School, he on the violin and Olive on the guitar or organ. One New Year’s Eve they drove a team and caboose all the way to Paddling Lake Hall to play for the dance! In 1946 she married Walter Potts at the Creary Family Farm. They moved to his farm a few miles east where they raised four children: Clara, Donald, Barry and Gregory. Like all farm wives Olive worked hard; raising chickens, milking cows, tending a huge garden and picking berries to supplement the family’s winter diet. In the quiet of the evening she could be heard humming softly as her knitting needles clicked away; making mittens, socks, and scarves for family, friends and the Church Fall Auction. She took time to visit her neighbours, walking while pushing the wee one in a carriage. In her mid-fifties she had the opportunity to get her Driver’s License. No longer did she have to depend on others for her outings! Much to a granddaughter’s surprise Grandma was fully prepared to change a flat tire, but was helped by a passing stranger. Olive and Walter retired to Shell Lake in 1981. Here she had plenty of time to visit, sing in the choir, and help out at the United Church. In 1996 Olive fell ill. She spent the last 15 years in Whispering Pine Place in Canwood. She will be dearly missed by her children; Clara Brown, Donald (Linda), Barry (Kathryn), Greg (Sandra), 14 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. She was pre-deceased by her parents Gordon and Nellie Creary, her brothers Garnet and Clinton, sister-in-law Hazel Creary, her husband Walter, son-in-law Clifton Brown, grandson Armand Brown and great grandson Michael Williamson. Memorial Donations in Olive’s memory may be made to the Shell Lake Cemetery Fund. A Celebration of Life was held January 26, 2013 at the Shell Lake Lion’s Hall. Email condolences will be forwarded to the family. Delores Beaulac entrusted with arrangements.