Phyllis Marjorie Byrnes (nee: Pollard) ‘Skippy’, of Chilliwack, B.C. Born August 4, 1932 in Cache Creek, B.C., passed away at Chilliwack General Hospital early Tuesday, May 5, 2009 after her heart beat its final beat.
Devoted wife and loving mother, she will be deeply missed by her adoring husband Gordon; daughter, Karen F. Procure (Chwk); son, Greg D. Byrnes (Rosedale/Chwk); sister, Donna Erikson (Coq.); and grandchildren: Robin, Kevin, Tamara, Brianna; and great-grandson Brandon; as well as many nieces and nephews and all others who knew her.
As a child she, her sisters and half-bothers lived in Clinton on the family’s beef ranch, known as Pollard’s Three Bar Ranch. Skippy and her sisters came to Chilliwack to Attend C.H.S. in the 1950’s and stayed with the Chadsey family, in East Chilliwack, until after graduation.
After a brief stay in Banff, Alberta, Phyllis moved to Toronto, where she worked at Eaton’s in the Catalogue Dept. She met Gordon roller skating one night and were married in June 1962. They settled in Pickering, Ontario to raise their family of three.
In the early 70’s she was an assistant Girl Guide Troup Leader. In 1976 they moved back to this beautiful valley, to Fairfield Island, to be closer to Skippy’s family where they have lived happily since.
She was gentle and kind. Her favorite author was Barbara Cartland. She loved to read romance novels and has quite a large selection of them. She loved to watch the local birds from her kitchen windows. She enjoyed camping with her family and teaching the kids the species of fin, feather and fur and she eagerly awaited each season’s new floral arrays growing in her yards’ many gardens and all over the city.
Her funeral will be a graveside service. Monday, May 11, 2009 at 11:30 AM at Vedder View Cemetery, 44675 Watson Road, Chilliwack, B.C. Brenda Janzen officiating.