Obituary of Edith Maud Vale

EDITH MAUD VALE (nee McCrie) April 2, 1910 July 21, 2012 Two words were often used to describe Edith Maud Vale: feisty? and classy.? If she disapproved of anything, all of her 62 inches stated in no uncertain terms that you had better think again. At all other times, she was a very positive, sociable lady who loved family, music, and learning. Edith was born in Swift Current in 1910 to Lena and Arthur McCrie. She and her sister Audrey (1912-1975) led a sheltered life? until their graduation from Moose Jaw Normal School in 1930. Teaching in small schoolhouses in rural Saskatchewan during the Depression? did not fade her love of life and learning, it fertilized her determination. In 1936, Edith married Robert Vale (1906-1985), a young banker with the Royal Bank of Canada. They and their two children, David and Roberta, transferred from Conquest to Climax to Swift Current, Cabri, and finally, to Regina in 1949. In the 50s Edith returned to teaching, most enjoyably in a one-room school at Briercliff, and later working with children at Dales House. When Bob retired in 1966, their curiosity and love of life led them to travel extensively throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. Even after the death of Bob in 1985, Edith continued to travel at every opportunity. In her eighties and nineties, her love of people and curiosity about anything new seemed to intensify: riding in small airplanes, rooting for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, attending Royal Bank social functions, going to the Swift Current and Kyle rodeos, flying across country to see grandchildren, having tea or a sherry with old friends, and even once, in her nineties, riding a motorcycle. Openly emotional, she wept as she saw from an airplane, the launching of a NASA space rocket. She was so grateful that a lady from the horse-and-buggy age? had seen so much. On July 21, 2012 Ediths feistiness could not save her. Her enthusiasm for life, however, will be lovingly remembered by son, David (Donna) and daughter, Roberta Sands; five grandchildren: Heather, Cheryl, Davis (Kathy), Colin and Randel; three great-grandchildren: Elizabeth, Kiana and Daniel; the families of niece Constanta, and nephew, Arthur (Donna); and the McCrie family near Kyle. As Edith requested, a private interment will take place on July 25 in Swift Current. Her family asks only that you think of her in your own special way. She would be delighted that you remembered her. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.speersfuneralchapel.com