Obituary of Edna Rita Hayes

Edna Rita Hayes (nee Stark) 1937 - 2016 Edna Hayes passed away in her home with family at her side on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 in Cranbrook after a two year battle with cancer. Edna was born on the family farm near Leipzig, Saskatchewan to her parents George and Ann Stark on December 15, 1937. Her school years included time in Wilkie and at the Catholic Convent in Leipzig. After graduating from high school, Edna worked as a switchboard operator for Saskatchewan Telephone. Edna met and married John C. Hayes and embarked on a career as a Mounties wife in the far north to several isolated postings in the Yukon and Northwest Territories and eastern Arctic. John, Edna and their children John and Cynthia moved out of the north and settled in Cranbrook in 1972. Edna soon decided to take swimming lessons and eventually worked her way up to head life guard / instructor at the old pool until her retirement in 1999. In 1977 John and Edna moved their family to their hobby farm in Gold Creek where she enjoyed many years of gardening, camping, boating and animal husbandry, mostly including horses. From 1982 until they retired, John and Edna ran the Rusty Buckle Western Shop and enjoyed their yearly entry of horses into the Sam Steele Parade. Edna will be sadly missed. She was predeceased by her husband John, her brother Ted Stark and her sisters Mary Stark, Agnes Bojarski and Cecila Dick. Edna is survived by her brother Arnold, daughter Cynthia, son John Michael (Bonnie) and grandchildren Tyler and Justin and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service for Edna will be held at McPherson Funeral Home in Cranbrook on Thursday, June 2, 2016 at 11:00 am. Donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, #202, 105 - 9th Avenue South, Cranbrook, BC, V1C 2M1 or the Heart & Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon, Okanagan/Kootenays Area Office, #4, 1551 - Sutherland Avenue, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1Y 9M9. Arrangements entrusted to McPherson Funeral Service. Condolences for the family can be offered at: www.mcphersonfh.com