WILSON – SYBIL SHEPHERD EVANS WILSON January 28, 1913 – February 13, 2017
How does one put 104 years of life into a few short words?
Sybil was born January 28, 1913, in Prineville, Oregon, the only child of Flossie and Ellis Shepherd, When Sybil was 2 years old, her mother died. One year later her father and young Sybil moved to southern Alberta where her father worked for ranchers. Sybil says although the times were hard she loved her Papa and learned to become an independent young woman. Over the years she has spoken of the early days in Canada, sleeping under the hay wagon and getting wet when it rained, milking a cow at six years of age, walking four miles to school, riding horses and loving her teachers.
She learned to drive a boy friend’s car going to dances and card parties. Jack Evans, a Newfoundlander, came to work in the Gem area where he met Sybil. They married in 1932 and had five children while they lived and worked in Gem: Ellen, Ada, Vic, Harold and Marg. During World War 2, Sybil and the children lived in Newfoundland for 11 months with Jack’s parents while he was overseas. She was a prairie girl and with great determination and no funds or place to live, she returned to Gem and found a way to support her family. Following Jack’s death in 1956 she married Fred Wilson. Sybil and Fred lived in Bow City and Cassils. After being widowed again, she sold the acreage in Cassils and moved into Brooks in 1975. Over the years Sybil had many jobs; in the 1940’s and 1950’s driving school bus in Gem and caretaking at the Gem school, in the 1960’s clerking at 5 cents to 1:00, a drug store, and waitressing. The last place she worked was the best job of all—at the Alberta Horticultural Station, where she greatly enjoyed working with plants and trees. In those days a person had to retire at age 65. Sybil often lamented that she could work 8 hours the day before her 65th birthday but the next day she was too old to work! Little did the Alberta government know (nor did Sybil) that she would receive a government employee pension for the next 39 years!! Retirement brought trips to Disneyland and other US destinations and Hawaii and even a cruise with Brooks friends. Sybil had time to participate in sports such as curling and playing horseshoes. She won many medals and trophies while she played horseshoes locally with her cream-colored van taking her many places across Canada and even to the US World Horseshoe Championships. Sybil was a proud member of the Legion Ladies Auxilliary and Royal Purple, holding positions in each of these groups and only rarely would she miss a meeting. Sybil was predeceased by two husbands, two daughters, three sons-in-law, and several grandchildren and great grandchildren. Sybil holds special places in the hearts of her daughter Ada Wallace of Gleichen, son Vic (Joan) of Calgary and son Harold (Gloria) of Brooks. She is lovingly remembered by her 11 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, 20 great-great grandchildren and 27 in-laws and Sybil knew the name of each one! Funeral services were held on Monday, February 20 at 2:00 PM from the Brooks United Church. Rev. Esther Baerends officiated. Interment was held at Bassano Cemetery. In memory of Sybil, if friends desire, memorial tributes may be made to either Brooks United Church, Memorial Fund, 507 – 3rd, Avenue West, Brooks, Alberta T1R 0B2 or Brooks and District Health Foundation for Kidney Dialysis Machine, Bag 300, Brooks, Alberta T1R 1B3.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to:
SMITH FUNERAL HOME LTD. AND CREMATORIUM, BROOKS, ALBERTA
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