Obituary of Lucy Van Bibber (Fulton/Sanderson)

It is with great sadness we share the news that our amazing mother Lucy Van Bibber (Fulton/Sanderson) passed away on March 12th at the age of 97 at Whitehorse, Yukon. Lucy was the third youngest of 14 children born to Ira & Eliza Van Bibber; she was a devoted and wonderful mother, wife, sister, aunt, grandmother, and great grandmother.

Lucy will be greatly missed by her daughter Barbara and granddaughter Melek Fulton, her son Daryl and daughter-in-law Bernadette Fulton, granddaughter’s Heather, Joy (Kyle), Shellby (Dylan), Chantel (Jared), and grandson Zachary (Susanna), and daughter Gail (Tony) Klein, step-granddaughter Michelle (Bruno) Sartorel, step-grandson Dwayne (Patricia) Clark, step-daughter-in-law Myrtle Anne Clark, and 9 great grandchildren and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Lucy had an extraordinary and full life. She was born at Mica Creek at Pelly Crossing. Lucy was raised hunting and fishing with her own dog team and trap line until she moved to Dawson at the age of 16 years old. She worked at St Mary’s Hospital until moving to Saskatoon, Sask to take a nurses aid course. Lucy then moved to Fairbanks, Alaska to look after her Uncle Theodore during the war. After the war Lucy moved to Calgary and took a business course. She worked at Calgary Power until she married Donald Fulton and then had to resign for being married. They lived in Calgary for 8 years raising 4 children Gloria/Gail, Daniel, Daryl and Barbara. The family moved to Cranbrook in 1957 and Lucy lived there for 62 years. Lucy had overwhelming grief with the loss of her son Daniel (Danny) in 1973.

In 2019 she moved back to the Yukon to be with family and friends. In 1983 Lucy married James (Ed) Sanderson. Together they embarked on many happy adventures including annual trips to the Yukon every summer to visit family, enjoyed river trips, painting and selling her artwork at Discovery Days in Dawson. Lucy was a remarkable artist, who loved painting, doing crafts and lapidary. She enjoyed playing darts, bowling, dancing, berry picking, picnics, long drives and was an avid reader. Lucy loved to travel! She thought nothing of going to Antarctica alone at 80 years old and walking among the penguins and that same year dipping her feet in the Arctic Ocean! Lucy loved country music and was thrilled to go to the Grand Ole Opry, to visit New York City, New Orleans, Washington DC, Mexico, Hawaii, a Caribbean cruise, and took numerous trips to Virginia Beach to visit her Van Bibber cousins. While watching Coronation Street in the evening Lucy enjoyed a drink of Crown Royal. Lucy had many friends and family who loved her unique personality, carefree spirit, and kind heart. She was full of joy and vitality. She will be missed by all.

A celebration of life is planned for Saturday May 11th, 2024 at 11:00am at McPherson Funeral Home in Cranbrook, BC and at Pelly Crossing, Yukon on July 13th, 2024 at 2:00pm. Memorial donations can be made to the Cranbrook Senior’s Hall (Lapidary) at seniorshall11@gmail.com or McBride Museum Whitehorse by emailing pcunning@macbridemuseum.com