Lois Fay McClellan (nee Farquharson) was born on October 6, 1930.
Lois, my mom and friend, left her current life on September 25, 2016 after a short battle with lung cancer.
Lois was the youngest daughter of Edna May and (William) Nelson Farquharson, of North Vancouver, BC and was married to Peter Graham McClellan (deceased 1996). She raised 2 children; her son and first born Douglas Graham McClellan (deceased 1975) and her daughter Brenda Mae McClellan (of Salmon Arm).
Lois was a tomboy before her time and a lefty to boot. She learned to hunt and fish with her father, and pulled Peter into the same pursuits. Some of her favourite memories were of riding the trolley up Lonsdale to her first day of school but neglecting to get off and the school calling to find out where she was, following her older brother Donald around, (whether he liked it or not), swimming in the mill pond (Lynn Valley) with her friends, playing field hockey and going to the provincial playoffs, hiking up Grouse Mountain to ski (before the days of chair lifts) and there was a little bit of golf and a little bit of tennis during her younger years. Her last athletic efforts were to take up floor curling at the Seniors’ Centre and to try lawn bowling at the Lawn Bowling Club (both in Salmon Arm). Mom met my father riding horses in Ambleside, West Vancouver and was married in North Vancouver after a whirlwind romance.
Mom could do almost anything she chose to do. She helped build and learned to run their business in Delta, BC, Lomac Kennels, where they bred, raised and trained Labradors for over 25 years. Lois was one of the first women to compete with her dogs in field trials (which are simulated hunting trials). She acclimatized and trained a timber wolf, and during all of this she was trying to show her children their way in life. Cooking was her passion; reading, watching, learning and trying out new recipes. She could host family dinners (with the Farquharson clan or with their many friends) or a client dinner for 70 and still survive the night. Her large dinner gatherings consisting primarily of game dishes were legendary. She was a “green thumb” gardener with the knack of encouraging any plant to grow. Nothing was too big or too small to tackle: she seemed to take things in stride from fixing a light fixture to renovating and raising the house with 2 young children running around to doing the business books at night. I will always remember her tailoring my suits and dresses as well as continuing to knit special sweaters for her adopted grandchildren.
Lois (with my Dad) moved to a Silver Creek acreage in the late 80’s and shortly after the 1998 fire moved into Salmon Arm, first to North Broadview, and then to Braeside Place. Mom’s “English” daughter Carolyn and her husband Peter Beard followed her to Salmon Arm in 2009 with daughter Brenda finally getting the idea and arriving in 2013 with her husband David Walker. Lois will also be greatly missed by Carolyn and Peter Beard and their children, Amanda (and spouse Ravi) and Matthew (and spouse Paula), along with her “adopted” great-grandchildren: Naveed, Aria, Zoe and Amelia.
I will miss my friend as will all of you who knew my mom as Lois. I am so proud to be her daughter.
A gathering to say goodbye and share memories will be held at 11:00 a.m. on October 22, 2016 at mom’s home: Unit 9 – 780 10th Street SW, Salmon Arm, BC (please note: there is limited parking in the complex but lots of street parking on 10th Street).
In lieu of flowers, those who wish to make a memorial contribution in memory of Lois may do so to either of the charities which she supported: the BC SPCA (Salmon Arm branch) or the Turtle Valley Donkey Refuge.
Arrangements have been entrusted to PLEASANT VALLEY DIGNITY FUNERAL HOME, 4303 P.V. Road, Vernon, B.C. V1T 4M4 Phone: (250) 542-4333. Condolences may be offered at pleasantvalleyfh.com