Edith May (Cook) Mayne

Edith May Mayne

July 3, 1920-January 6, 2019

May Mayne leaves behind her loving husband of 72 years, Jim, sons Gerry (Heather) and Ron (Pat) and daughter Betsy (Alan).  She was a much loved grandmother of James (Brooke), Melanie (Mike), Pam, Darren (Michelle), Ben (Chermaine), and Tracey (Jay) and great grandmother of Kieran, Morrigan, Travis, and Lexi.

May was born in Toronto to George and Lizzie Cook.  After a supposed life limiting illness as a child, she defied all odds to live a full and fruitful life.  With a great love of theatre, music, and dance, she met the love of her life, a handsome Air Force recruit, at a dance at the start of World War II.  Jim was posted to England for 3 years and their romance continued by post.  May joined the Navy, and served as a Wren, first as a captain’s writer in Halifax, then to Washington D.C. taking dictation from the Pentagon.  She was commissioned to Galt, ON as an acting petty officer before returning to Toronto.  On Jim’s return, a whirlwind marriage took place, seeing May and Jim setting up life together in Summerland on an orchard on Garnet Valley Road.

May and Jim built their own house and raised their family in a home of warmth, happy family meals, and freshly baked apple pies.  May was very active in the United Church Women’s group.  She enjoyed dancing, belonging to the Friday Club and a square dancing group.

Many a happy trip around the fishing lakes of BC filled her life.  A trip to Hawaii, a cruise to Alaska, and several visits to Betsy and Alan’s farm in North Yorkshire, England to visit her grandchildren provided lots of joyful memories.

After leaving the orchard, May enjoyed five happy years in Angus Place and spent her final years at Summerland Seniors Village. 

The family would like to offer their most sincere thanks to the staff of SSV for their sympathetic and dignified care of May in her final days.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to CNIB – Donation Processing Centre, PO Box 9410 Stn Terminal, Vancouver, BC  V6B 9Z9.

Condolences may be directed to the family through providencefuneralhomes.com 250-494-7752.