HERRING, Grace Marion (nee SMITH). Marion was born in New Westminster, BC on January 19, 1920 and died peacefully February 11, 2013, at The Cottage Pavilion in Abbotsford. Predeceased by her husband Phillip of 64 years, her parents Ross and Eva Smith and siblings Howard, Alistair and Isobel. Survived by her children, Alan (Colleen), Jane Koberstein (Bill), Ross (Betsy) and Ian (Maija); sister, Dorothy Beach, brother, Hugh Neil Smith; grandchildren, Mark (Madelyn), Elizabeth (Mike), Sonya (Steve), Eva (Cory), Laura (Cam), Sarah and Liam; and great-grandchildren, Noah, Andrew, Lachlan and Colton. Marion spent the first nine years of life growing up in the affluent part of New Westminster on the banks of the Fraser River. When the Depression hit in October 1929 the Smith family lost their business and downsized to their summer cottage on Sumas Prairie outside of Abbotsford. The Smiths then had to adapt to living off the land. The short-term solution to a streak of bad luck, turned out to be good fortune for Marion and her siblings, as they came to love the beauty of the Prairie and life on a farm. While completing business school in New Westminster, she met Phillip. They married in 1942 and then spent the first two years of marriage apart as Phil served overseas in England, North Africa and Italy with the 6th Field Co., Royal Canadian Engineers. After the war Phillip pursued a career in civil engineering and Marion became a homemaker. They relocated to the rainy climes of Ocean Falls up the coast of BC where Philip began his first job as City Engineer of Ocean Falls, and where Alan and Jane were born. In 1952 they moved to Kamloops where she gave birth to Ross. In 1956 they moved to their home in Burnaby where their last child, Ian was born. This was home for fifty-five years. While in Burnaby she became an avid gardener, art collector, joined the Burnaby Garden Club and enjoyed the company of the Burnaby Lapidary Club. She will be remembered for her volunteer efforts at Burnaby Art Gallery where she worked in the loan gallery and set up an SFU bursary for art students. She enjoyed spending weekends at the family property in Point Roberts, which has been in the Herring family since 1913. Marion travelled the world with Phillip after the children were grown. The family thanks Hallmark on the Lake and the staff of The Cottage Pavilion for their care and support in the last five years. A Celebration of Marion’s life will be held on Friday, March 15, 2013, at 11:30 am at Henderson's Fraser Valley Funeral Home, 34537 Marshall Road, Abbotsford, BC. In lieu of flowers, donations to the charity of your choice would be appreciated.
Tributes and condolences may be left at www.hendersonsabbotsfordfunerals.com.
Henderson’s Funeral Home 604-854-5534