Mary Lou Bird (Will – Eagle)

January 17, 1932 – January 14th, 2018

Mary Louise Bird passed away Sunday, January 14th, 2018, at Mont St. Joseph Home in Prince Albert, SK, 3 days before her 86th birthday.  She was born in Prince Albert, SK, January 17, 1932. Mary Lou grew up in Prince Albert attending King George School and PACI. She spent her summers with her family at Waskesiu Lake, SK. After high school graduation, she went to Nurse’s College in Saskatoon, SK.  In 1952 she married her high school sweetheart, Ken Bird, and they had fifty wonderful years together. They settled in Birch Hills where Mom and Dad made many memories with special friends, and later moved to Prince Albert where they raised their six children. From 1958 until her death, Mom was a proud, active member in the ACT Ladies Auxiliary. She was also very involved with St. David’s Anglican Church until the move to Christopher Lake, SK where, for 30 years, she was an active member of the St. Christopher’s Church community.  Mom worked for Prince Albert Home Care where she brightened the lives of seniors for many years. Mom was an avid seamstress and made many clothes for the kids and grandkids.  She was also an experienced knitter and many of us still have the Siwashes she made for us. In 1970, she and Dad bought a quarter section of land near Christopher Lake, which was the birth of the Lazy K. The ranch was the site of many great times which have become wonderful memories for family and friends.  Music around the campfire was a highlight for all.  Mom cooked many meals for family and everyone else lucky enough to be around.  We all have fond memories of Mom frying bacon and eggs over the open fire or cooking chili or stew in a cast iron pot over the flame. At the farm as well as at home, she would feed up to 30+ people and love doing it.  There were never too many people around as she treasured family get-togethers. In 1986 Mom and Dad built a house and moved to “The Farm” as the family continues to call it. With help from all the family, the Lazy K Golf Course opened in 1990. They ran it together until Dad’s passing then Mom continued to operate it with the help of her son Jim, and her grandchildren, until her move back to Prince Albert in 2015.  She loved working at the course, and especially loved the friendships she formed with the many golfers who returned year after year. Mom was patient and kind.  She loved people. She was caring and compassionate and always put others before herself. She was predeceased by her husband: Ken; and by her parents: Duncan and Molly (Eagle) Will, and Bill and Irma (Campbell) Eagle; and her step-mother: Dorthea Will.  She was also predeceased by her brother: George Will; her sisters: Mary Hearne and Margaret Belcourt; and her sister-in-law: Marge Eagle. She is survived by her six children: Betty Jean (Derek Quinn), Ken (Shelley Kvinlaug), David (Christine Maxwell), Eleanor (Robert Kaufhold), Jim, and Carol Ann (Randy Short); her 11 grandchildren: Jeffrey and Stephanie (Brian) Quinn, Cameron (Elise) and Matthew (Theresa) Bird, Andrew (Cindy) and Shawn Bird, Ben (Linsey), Nick and Joey (Katie) Kaufhold, Kyle and Taylor (James) Short; 11 great-grandchildren: Ella Langis,  Adria and Linley Bird, Jacey and Kaden Bird, Aslyn and Emersyn Bird, Cohen and Holden Kaufhold, Danny and Lauren Kaufhold, and she was eagerly awaiting 2 more great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by her sister: Lou Palmer; her brothers: John (Lorraine), David (Alice) and Rick (Lorraine) Eagle, and Duncan (Eileen) Will, as well as by many nieces, nephews and cousins. The family would like to thank the staff at Mont St. Joseph for the exceptional care given to our mother. Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, January 18th at 2:00 p.m. at St. David’s Anglican Church, 500 – 24th Street East in Prince Albert, SK with the Venerable Dr. Norbert Haukenfrers officiating. Interment will take place at Christopher Lake at a later date. In lieu of other tributes, donations may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangements in care of MacKenzie Chapel & Crematorium – Shellbrook Funeral Home.  Brian and Bev Stobbs, Funeral Directors. www.MacKenzieChapel.ca .  306.763.8488

• Date : 2018-01-14
• Location : Prince Albert, SK