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BARCLAY – Evelyn Mildred (Nelson) Barclay was born on the family farm, near Stettler, AB on January 18, 1913. Evelyn passed away on May 31, 2008 in Heritage House at the age of 95 years, 4 months and 12 days. She was the seventh child of Etta and Chris Nelson. She attended school at Silver Prairie. Following her school years she worked as household help until March 7, 1934 when she married Harry Barclay. They made their first home north of Stettler, and then moved to the Nelson farm, and in 1949 they moved to the Union Hall district. Mom was first and foremost a devoted mother and all her time was spent on her family. Harry passed away in May 1967, shortly after that Mom took up her second career. She worked as a cook at the Stettler Hospital and eventually became the dessert chef. She retired in 1978. At this time she became an excellent quilter and made hundreds of quilts for family and friends. She was a prolific gardener and loved her flowers and vegetable garden equally. As a younger mother she would take her horse and two milk pails and go pick saskatoons and chokecherries. She made bread every week as we were growing up. After the kids all left home she became the bun making queen of the family and there was never a family function that she didn’t make all the buns for, until she lost her eyesight. When she lost her eyesight she moved into Heart Haven Lodge and continued to braid coverings for coat hangers. She always enjoyed going to the Country Music Jamboree in Camrose, and went for many years. At the age of 90 she took a trip to Costa Rica to visit Linda and Dan. In July 2006, she suffered a stroke and moved to Heritage House where she spent the remainder of her days, under the kind and loving care of the staff there. Evelyn was predeceased by her loving husband Harry; sons Arnold and John and all her brothers and sisters. She is survived by her sons - Gerald (Mary) Barclay, Dale (Carole) Barclay, Dave (Dianna) Barclay; daughters - Donna (Bob) Stevens, Linda (Danny) Chapman; daughter-in-law Mila Barclay; sister-in-law - Gladys Nelson; 36 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; as well as numerous other relatives and friends. Funeral service was held Friday, June 6, 2008 at 2 p.m. in the Heartland Chapel of Stettler Funeral Home, with Mrs. Susan Nelson officiating. Daughter-in-law Carole Barclay and grandson Damian Chapman delivered the eulogy. Organist Evelyn Strandquist played for the hymns “In the Garden” and “Just A Closer Walk With Thee.” Alec Salmon, Marlene Bauman and Dave Reinbold played a musical tribute to those in attendance. Interment was at Lake View Cemetery where she was laid to rest with her husband and son. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice, c/o Stettler Funeral Home, Box 1780, Stettler, AB T0C 2L0. Sympathies may be forwarded to the family by signing the guestbook at www.stettlerfuneralhome.com/".



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