Mary Loghrin (Armishaw) Gourley (1923 - 2010)

Born 30 Mar 1923 in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada

Ancestors

Wife of David Gourley — married 5 May 1943 in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada

Died 31 Aug 2010 at age 87 in Harrison Mills, British Columbia, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Tom Loghrin [send private message]

Biography

Mary was born in Portage La Prairie and, after completing her education, she taught school at Hood Settlement near her home.

She married David Gourley, son of Thomas Gourley and Jane Jeffrey, at Chilliwack, B.C. May 5, 1943 where he was training with the Engineers. He grew up on the family farm near Portage la Prairie and at 18 began working winters logging near Ft. Francis, Ontario. Shortly after their marriage, Dave shipped overseas on July 16, 1943 with Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion Royal Canadian Engineers. He served in England, Holland, France, Belgium and Germany.^[1] It was a time he seldom spoke of but he did tell his son, Jeff, that he helped to rebuild some of the bridges in Holland - the historic Baily Bridges.

In 1946, he returned to work on the family farm in the summer and to log in the winter; then he farmed for three years on his own.

In 1952, Dave joined the Federal Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, serving at Long Plains Reserve in Portage la Prairie. In 2006 Mary still received Christmas cards from some of the ladies on the Long Plains Reserve. After that, they were transferred to the Maritimes and he worked at Eskasoni, Amherst, N.S. and later at Woodstock, Fredericton, N.B. Mary’s working life included being a teacher, a store clerk and many years with Sears catalogue division.^[2]

Dave retired in 1982 and he and Mary continued to enjoy life in the Maritimes particularly at their cottage in Shediac. Their home was a holiday destination for many prairie folk over the forty years they were in the Maritimes; there were lobster dinners, Parlee Beach and tours of the Cabot Trail and Prince Edward Island.^[3]

David died at the Moncton Hospital on Apr. 13, 2006 due to various cancers. After that time, Mary moved to British Columbia and lived with her son, Harold, in Harrison Mills. She died due to complications from cancer.

Footnotes

1. ↑ David Gourley’s funeral pamphlet received from Margaret Lamb, June 10, 2006.
2. ↑ Mary Loghrin Armishaw’s funeral notice provided by Grace Street, Sept., 2010.
3. ↑ Mary Gourley in conversation with Tom Loghrin, Dec., 2006.

Sources

• 1926 Census of the Prairie Provinces
• In Loving Memory of David Gourley, a tribute written by Jeffrey Gourley, Apr., 2006.
• Mary Gourley (unknown-2010), Find a Grave, Memorial #203907710