Florence Mildred Graham, known as G.G. to her family and friends, graciously ascended into the arms of her Lord on February 20, 2004 at the age of 86, with her loving family at her bedside.
She was born in Circle City, Washington on March 16, 1917, but lived her life in British Columbia. Being the fifth child of sixteen she is survived by seven sisters and two brothers and predeceased by five sisters and one brother.
She was predeceased by her husband William Jones in 1974, the father of her eight children: Dean Jones (Florence) of Hazelton, B.C., Verona Christensen (Berger) of Puyallup, Washington, Patricia Matthews (Mel) of Barriere, B.C., Meralyn Thomas of Sooke, B.C., Marshall Paul Jones (Margaret) of Fort Nelson, B.C., Wells Jones (Kaethe) of Chilliwack, Jennifer McCormack (Jack) of Salmon Arm, B.C. and Darrell Jones (Donna) of Prince George, B.C.
She has been blessed with twenty grandchildren and thirty great-grandchildren.
She was also predeceased by her second husband Alex Graham in 1989, who had blessed her with an extended family of three stepsons and several more grandchildren and great- grandchildren, to whom she was an awesome mom and grandma.
A real pioneer, Florence spent the first half her life in various parts of B.C. In 1956 she bought a property in the Ryder Lake area of Chilliwack where she built a log home and raised her four younger children. She lived there for 22 years. In her early years at Ryder Lake, she worked as a ward aide at the Coqualeetza Hospital. She was an active member of the Ryder Lake women’s Institute. She enjoyed using her creative and artistic skills in making things and sewing for her family. After marrying Alex Graham in 1974, she became a world traveler, visiting the Maritime Provinces, Hawaii and Scotland. In 1990, she moved to Salmon Arm and, for the past fourteen years, she has lived with her daughter Jennifer and son-in-law Jack McCormack.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Five Corners Pentecostal Church in Salmon Arm on February 28, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Danny Stebeck officiating. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Gideon’s Bible Society or Missions for the Watoto Childcare Ministries for orphans (www.watoto.com) or Compassion of Canada. (www.compassion.ca)