MORRELL, Gertrude Mae Morrell

Died at Espanola Long Term Care on Saturday at the age of 83. Predeceased by her beloved husband and life partner in everything, Evan. Loved by her children; Bill (Cindy predeceased), Pat (Don Ryan), Bob (predeceased) (Faye), Gloria (Gord Byers) and Willie Haner (wife Bonnie). Proud grandmother of Kara (Kristopher Lassman), Rick (Stacy), Calvin (Stephanie), Brad Ryan (Rebecca), Jocelyn (Ryan Bax), Michelle (Jamie Hardy), Heidi (Jackson Downing), Tony (Miranda), Rachelle (Steven Page), Darla, Clay, Jill, Carl, Cord Dickson,  and Robbie Haner Cherished great grandmother of; Chase, Chance & Charity Lassman, Grace, Ashton, Madeline, Mack & Levi, Connor, Breah, Olivia & Ava, Emma, Tommy, Maiah & Brett Ryan, Harper & Sawyer Bax, Tayla, Tucker & Hunter Hardy, Isaiah & Karina Downing, Holly, Trevor, Leroy & Otto, Brooklyn & John Page. Dear sister of Frank, Nancy Sagle, Charlie and Susan. Predeceased by Bill, Marilyn and Mary Raised in Burpee, Manitoulin, second oldest in the family, she grew to be feisty and loyal.

Gertrude Mae Morrell loved to tell about being the fastest runner on the Manitoulin, and we teased her that is how she caught Dad. Married young, and became a mother young, she was not afraid of hard work or challenges. Dad kept her busy with both.

Selling their house in Naughton they moved to the farm on LaCloche Lk Rd., Massey. Starting with beef cattle, till the bottom fell out of the market, mom got her dream of sheep. Sheep we had, often over 100 ewes. Dad was the equipment repair man, and the instruction giver, he would go to work (in the mines) and mom would get it done, not always following instructions. She would say “there is more than one way to skin the cat”.

As us kids got older she had a little extra time so went driving the Seldom Seen/Lee Valley high school bus, for a few years, this gave her the confidence that she was a good driver. The farm was transitioned to the oldest son Bill, a logging license was bought and Moms life changed radically. After having problems with drivers, mom rose to the challenge and proved that she was a capable and competent driver. Mom thrived in a mans world, driving log trucks, able to operate any piece of logging equipment. For a small lady she had the grit and strength of two large men. She was best known by some as “the dragon lady”, not that anyone was brave enough to call her this to her face. She was well known for her questionable style choice of pants and skirt combo and her “Ugly” dog companion.

Life changed again for mom and she took up another new career, joining her youngest in running the funeral home in Little Current. Again she rose to the challenge, learning and figuring it out. From the frustrating computer, funerals, cemeteries, new language and a totally different skill set; she loved working with people, reconnecting with old friends, and making new, she wasn’t afraid of grueling road trips, on tight time frames, in and out of hospitals that she had never saw before, situations that others would not handle, mom just knuckled down.

Mom was a strong minded woman, yet Dad was the decision maker. Mom didn’t always agree but, she would willingly go along, with a lot of guff and grinding dads gears.

When moms life is considered as a whole, her greatest joy was her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She would frequently tell us in a joking manner, that if she had of known grandchildren were so wonderful, she would of skipped kids.

She was in essence a simple woman, we will remember and love her for; her faith in God, reading her Bible and praying, flowers, indoor and out, all day berry picking, filling multiple buckets to the brim, preserving and freezing fruit, knitting socks and mitts in the wildest colours, making puzzles, playing scrabble, being mischievous and bratty, giving bear hugs, making crazy sound effects, growls, and roars, sneaking and scaring and her eardrum piercing whistle.

We will never forget her scowl and pursed lips.

Visitation will take place at the Espanola Legion on Thursday, May 7, from 5-8 p.m.

Funeral also in the Legion on Friday May 8 at 11:00 a.m., followed by a luncheon.

Interment to follow in the Grandview Cemetery, Massey.

Arrangements by BOURCIER FUNERAL HOME, Ltd., Espanola.