May 20, 1940 - April 19, 2021
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved wife, mother and grandmother, Marion Elizabeth Lillian Beattie. Marion was born in Trail, B.C. She was the firstborn child of Marion Jean Coon (Robbins) and Benjamin Tyler Coon and the older sister to Arlene (Almanza). Marion or Marnie, as she was often called by her parents and sister, was raised and schooled in Rossland, B.C. She graduated from Rossland High School in 1958.
During her high school years, she was involved in many sports including badminton, tennis, soccer and skiing. She was a Red Mountain racer and was a member of the B.C. Ski Team that won the Canadian Junior Ladies Championship in 1958. That successful provincial ski team also included another team member from Rossland; a fairly accomplished individual by the name of Nancy Greene.
Marion excelled at academics and after high school graduation she enrolled in the Home Economics program at U.B.C. After one year in that department, she wisely changed course to the sciences. In 1963 Marion graduated with a Bachelor's Degree of Science in Secondary Education.
During the summer breaks from U.B.C., she worked as a waitress, lifeguard, chemist and office clerk. It was during the summer of 1960 while working in the assay lab at the Trail smelter that she met her future husband, a young assayer by the name of Paul Denison Beattie. On December 28, 1963, the couple were married.
Upon graduating from U.B.C., Marion got her first teaching assignment at the Richmond Secondary School teaching grade 8. Marion's passion for teaching, sense of humour and no-nonsense disposition made her an excellent fit for this age group.
Marion and Paul's first child, Michael Brian, was born in Vancouver. The young family then moved to North Kamloops in 1965 where Paul worked for North Kamloops Pharmacy. Later that year they moved again, this time to Smithers where they lived for just over a year. Marion taught grade 8 math and science there. They then moved to Williams Lake where they would live for three years. Their second son, Brent Richard was born there in 1966.
In Williams Lake she was elected as a trustee on the District School Board and therein began a career in public service and community involvement. The family of four moved to Montrose in 1969 where their daughter, Monica Marion was born.
In addition to doing the bulk of the child raising and parenting, Marion also kept very busy as a member of the school board. She was elected in Beaver Valley as a trustee on District 11 School Board where she served for 10 years (2 years as chairperson and was a leader of the contract bargaining committee).
She also represented School District 11 on the Selkirk College Council for several years. During this stage of her life, she and her tennis partner, Edie Lawton, were the top Ladies Doubles Tennis team in the West Kootenay. Marion was a qualified tennis instructor and she taught many others how to play the game.
She also taught and coached badminton at the Montrose School. Once the three children were well established at school, she resumed her teaching career, initially doing substitute teaching and then teaching part time at Rossland High School. She then taught Adult Basic Education for Selkirk College for ten years. Paul and Marion built their dream home at Christina Lake and when she retired from teaching in 1998, they moved from Montrose to the lake.
Marion was very active in retirement. She joined the Grand Forks Community Choir, the Moody Creek Quilters Guild, the Grand Forks Curling Club and was a member at the Christina Lake Golf and Country Club. She also became very involved in Christina Lake Stewardship Society (as a founding member and a term as president) and Senior's Housing Society (as a founding member and a term as chairperson) and the Christina Lake Nature Park Committee.
Marion loved the outdoors and was an avid hiker, gardener and cross-country skier. She was also a voracious reader and accomplished seamstress and quilter.
Marion loved to travel and had an exciting trip abroad planned for every November, the only month she did not like in the West Kootenay area.
In the summer of 1988, she worked as an English instructor in South Korea. She also went on several hiking adventures with sister Arlene. Family was very important to Marion and to make sure her family stayed connected she organized and helped subsidize extended family vacations to Mexico and Disneyland. Friends and family were always welcome to stay at Christina Lake. In fact, several grandchildren lived with Marion and Paul over the summer months to work summer jobs at Christina Lake.
Marion is survived by husband Paul, son Mike (Melody), son Brent and daughter Monica (Rod) Haines. Marion and Paul have seven beloved grandchildren: Mitch, Nick, and Andrea Beattie; Alex and Drew Beattie; Rylie (Colleen) and Tessa.
Marion's energy, zest for life and commitment to a good time will be missed by all that knew her.
In remembrance of Marion's life the "Marion E.L. Beattie Endowment Fund" has been established at Selkirk College Foundation. Should friends desire, charitable contributions to her endowment fund may be made online at selkirk.ca/donate-today (on the form choose "other" and enter "Marion E.L. Beattie Endowment Fund") or by contacting Kelsey Baerg at 250 505 1304 or at kbaerg@selkirk.ca
Al Grywacheski of Alternatives Funeral and Cremation ServicesTM has been entrusted with arrangements.
You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence at the family's online register at www.myalternatives.ca
Alternatives Funeral and Cremation Services