Ella Priscilla (nee Taylor)
1912 - 2007
Ella died peacefully on September 8, 2007 at South Okanagan Hospital in Oliver, BC. She is survived by her son Bill (Alison) Gilmour of Osoyoos, BC and her grandson Cameron (Loni) Gilmour and great-grandson Brock of Parksville, BC. She is also survived by nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and dear friends.
Ella was predeceased by her husband RCAF Pilot Officer William Gilmour, her sister Audrey Winton (Gordon) of Langley, BC and her brothers George Taylor (Gladys) and Aubrey Taylor (Peggy, still living) of Abbotsford, BC.
Ella was born on April 18, 1912 in Peardonville, BC. She graduated in 1934 from the Vancouver General Hospital School of Nursing, achieving the highest grade in the province for that year. She was employed as a nurse at hospitals in Abbotsford, Powell River, and Whitehorse, Yukon. As an occupational health nurse she spent many years with Weston Bakeries, Eatons, Sears, Kelly-Douglas and Seagrams.
Ella and Willy were married on April 6, 1942, and their honeymoon consisted of a train trip to Halifax to see him off to war. Willy was killed on August 21, 1942 while on an air force training flight in Scotland. Although she received several offers through the years, she never remarried.
Ella demonstrated a lot of spirit throughout her life. As a single young woman she went up to the Yukon to nurse. Later, as a widow on her own, she raised their son. She kept fit, walking at least a mile every day until she was 94 years old. After living in the same house in Vancouver for 60 years, Ella decided at the age of 92 to move her household to Penticton, BC to be closer to her son.
At Ella’s request there will be no service or memorial tea, simply because most of her friends and family have gone before her. She requested that her ashes be placed at the farm where she was raised in Peardonville, near Abbotsford.