Julia Connor

Julia Agnes Cameron

May 17, 1927 – July 28, 2017

Julia was born in Hopewell, Pictou Co, Nova Scotia, the youngest of eight siblings by Neil and Elizabeth (nee Falconer) Cameron, both descendants of immigrants from the Scottish Highlands aboard the ship Hector that landed in Pictou Harbour in 1773.  She enjoyed an idyllic small-town youth and was active among a large extended family and community of childhood friends. She loved the nearby vast ocean beaches of the Northumberland Strait cottage life.   Following graduation and working in a bank, Julia rode the train westward to visit her dear sister, Mabel. Mabel had fallen in love and married James Proudfoot while he was stationed in Halifax during the war years.  This visit t0 Alberta proved to be fateful, as Julia met and fell in love with Jame’s youngest brother, William Arthur Proudfoot.  From there, she abandoned her plans to carry on to California, and they were married in Edmonton Oct 7, 1950. While William continued his education at the University of Alberta, Julia worked in a local bank.  Each spring, they returned to help out with the large mixed family farm near Chinook, Alberta. During this time, they welcomed two sons: George Robert and William Alexander.  After he graduated from Medicine, Bill and Julia established their life together in Calgary.  Three more sons: Glenn Cameron, Timothy Dale and Phillip James joined the family.  During this vibrant time, they enjoyed all that Calgary, Banff and their rural lifestyle had to offer.  They acquired a farm just south of Calgary near DeWinton and eventually a ranch in south eastern BC near Grasmere. Thus continuing a tradition of having a rural presence and the associated work ethic for their family.  The couple were very traditional in nature. Julia had her hands full raising all five boys and hosting their many visiting friends. Their priorities included providing an enriched family environment of education, arts, sports, and church. Bill was extremely busy attending to his medical practice, various weekend family weekend outdoor activities, family vacation holidays, or else farming with his crew of boys. This ingrained a strong ethic in the boys. They worked hard and they played hard. All five boys matriculated to University. As their sons were setting out on their own, Bill and Julia sampled island life in Maui. She enjoyed conversations over tea, gardening, cooking, fashion, dining out, and travel.  Julia’s favourite destination was Scotland, a country she shared a natural affinity for. After spending a few years living their retired paradise life in Hawaii, Bill and Julia moved back to Alberta and Bill started another medical practice in Vulcan. Bill became the Chief Medical Staff at Vulcan Hospital. Julia sold her Dewinton property and they used the proceeds to buy a large cattle ranch in the BC Kootenay interior. They were busy commuting each week back and forth between their home in Vulcan during the work week and Beau West Ranch on the weekends. Four of their sons settled on or near the ranch to raise the grandchildren. Julia lost Bill, her husband of 38 years Jan 23, 1989 after a brave two year battle with multiple myeloma cancer. During this time Julia stayed by his side as his primary support. Upon his death she sold the Vulcan house and settled briefly in Banff to regroup from the severity of this loss. Her three youngest sons took over the operation of Beau West Ranch.. ,Julia married Hubert (Barney) Dudley Connor in Calgary July 21, 1990. Barney had grown up on the prairies with Bill and maintained a friendship.  Julia and Barney settled into his home in North Vancouver. They later relocating to Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island to enjoy retirement, gardening, and, for her, the ocean life once again.  To everyone’s sadness, Barney passed away from heart failure Oct 9, 2012 at the age of 84. To compound this grief, Julia’s son Timothy Dale tragically died prematurely at about this same time. Shortly thereafter, Julia settled in Penticton to be near her eldest son, George, and his wife Pat. They provided a wonderful support system and companionship for Julia throughout this time. George helped his mum cope with being on her own and most recently when she suffered multiple strokes as a complication following hip surgery. This dealt a final blow to her cherished independence. Her final months were spent in Dr Andrews Pavillion in Summerland, BC where she was absolutely loved by the many professional staff who cared for her. We all were so grateful for that. Julia lead a comfortable and graceful life during an age that witnessed a great deal of social change. Her opinions were firm and nearly always based on her abiding faith in the merits of preserving time-tested traditions.

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