After a long and difficult journey with Alzheimer’s disease, Marion’s noble spirit finally took wing and soared into the great beyond . With her devoted family circled around her, she left us, with peace in her heart and the awareness that she was deeply loved.
Marion began her life in our Kamloops hospital on May 29, 1940. Born prematurely, she was placed in an incubator and clothed in brown wrapping paper to keep her warm. But the spark of life was strong, and she quickly grew into an intentioned individual who loved every moment of life and delighted in the company of her family and friends. There was a lovely brilliance about Marion. She inspired us with her positive energy, her natural ease of manner, and the special way in which she connected with people.
Marion attended schools in Robbins’ Range, Westwold, Monte Lake and Kamloops Secondary, graduating in 1958. In 1945 when one more student was needed to keep the Robbins' Range school open, she broke the rules by enrolling in grade one when she was only five! Marion loved all things musical, especially singing and playing the cello in the high school symphony orchestra. She and her cello partner, Keith Hanna, were so shy then, that the only words exchanged between them were, "Turn the page!" Marion also loved animals, dancing, drama, wild flowers, painting, reading, creating costumes with her good friend, Carol Lindner, and the wilderness life at our Dominic Lake cabin. But above all, Marion loved to laugh! And when she did, her beautiful blue eyes sparkled like diamonds.
Marion began her working career at the Bank of Montreal in Kamloops in 1958 and remained in banking on a part time basis for many years. She is survived by Jack, her husband and soul mate of 51 years, their children, Melanie Cook (Hoby), Joyanne Harper (Dale ), Michelle Roberts ( Russell), John Harper (Teresa) and eight grandchildren – Sutherland, Jake, Kody, Karson, Jerin, Jenessa, Jayden, and Johnny. And what an ever present, and loving, wife, mother, and grandma Marion was! She also leaves to mourn her passing, her brother, Terry Jones, and her sister, Lorraine Jones. Marion was predeceased by her parents, Lloyd and Kathleen Jones, her sister, Margaret Daser, and brother, Alan Jones.
Marion believed that example is the greatest teacher in the world; that love is unconditional; and that the purpose of life is to be happy ourselves and to pass that happiness on to others. Marion practised these principles by always giving to the world the best that she had. And the best did come back to her.
