Lorraine Lawes (Agnes Lorraine Brown)
Lorraine’s story begins on November 30th, 1926. She was born in Viking, Alberta so she could be near her mother. Ronnie was born there as well on January 30th, 1931. Our elder brother, Bob was born on May 25th, 1925 in Vegreville, Alberta.
Viking is a typical small country town and we all lived and enjoyed the typical small town life. Everyone knew everyone in town including all the kids and parents. We were free to go everywhere, and pretty well do anything we wanted within reason.
All three of us were in the Viking School Band. This was one of the things I remember most about our early days in Viking where all three of us did something together. Bob played trumpet, I played trombone, and Lorraine the big-big tuba and she played it with all her heart.
You’ll be interested to know that a guy by the name of Marvin Lawes played trumpet in the band. Marvin was a grade ahead of me and a year or two later they moved away from Viking. Little did we know at that time that he would bless all our lives many years later.
As we grew up in Viking, Bob worked after school in Dad’s garage before going into the Navy during World War II. Lorraine worked in Styles Rexall Drug Store opposite Dad’s garage on Main Street. I was still doing all the usual kid stuff with hardly a care in the world.
I remember one incident during Lorraine’s high school years when she must have made Dad proud, and certainly surprised her school pals. It was a warm afternoon and either the high school kids were given the day off (P-D days were non existent in those days) or several of them played hooky. I don’t think it was hooky or Dad would not have been that proud of her. Anyway on the way to Lake Thomas, about 3 miles east, Junior Broughton’s car had a flat tire. “Brody”, as he was called, said “I provided the car, but you guys are going to have to put the spare on”. No one volunteered and the car just sat there for a few minutes while they discussed the situation. Lorraine, without hesitation, said “Where’s the jack and wheel wrench. My dad is a mechanic and I’ll change the tire!” And she did it all by herself just to prove that point.
Dad sold the garage in Viking in 1944 and took on the job of co-ordinating the 8th and last War Bond Drive in Viking. Bob was now in the Navy.
We moved to Boston Bar, B.C. in June of 1945 arriving in “cherry” time. Lorraine and I had never seen fruit on trees before. We were soon up the big cherry tree behind our house eating all we could handle.
Lorraine was soon working at the Hotel Café and continued there for about a year or so.
She moved back to Red Deer, Alberta in 1947 and lived with our Uncle Dave and Aunt Mabel while working at Horsley’s Drug Store.
Lorraine met Mac Houston and they got married in 1949 in Red Deer. I remember going back there with Mom and Dad for the wedding in Gaetz United Church.
They later moved to Calgary in 1952. Mary-Ann, Sandy, Bobby, and Neal were all born in Calgary.
During the kids’ high school years Lorraine began working at Fowler High School, running the book store among other duties. She remained there until retirement in 1987.
After Mac passed away in 1970, Lorraine assumed both parenting roles very well.
My career and business brought me through Calgary two or three times a year so we were able to keep in touch. Lorraine and I bonded closely as brother and sister during those years as we provided moral and physical support to each other on many occasions, and in times of personal and family concerns.
It was a real pleasure for me to be chosen to walk with Mary-Ann down the aisle when she and Jim Berridge got married in 1972.
Mom and Dad had moved to Kelowna in 1963, and as time went on Lorraine visited often to keep in touch. My business allowed me to schedule fairly frequent visits through Kelowna as well.
Bob and Dot later moved to Kelowna from Boston Bar so they were also able to keep in touch and help Mom and Dad as required.
After retirement Lorraine moved to Kelowna as well. Just prior to retirement, and on the occasion of one of Lorraine’s visits to Kelowna, Marvin Lawes re-enters the story of Lorraine’s life.
Marvin’s folks had wound up in Kelowna, connected with our Mom and Dad periodically, and Marvin retired to Kelowna as well, to be near his folks.
Brother Bob thought Marvin and Lorraine would make a good match and got them together somehow; and thus began a wonderful relationship.
During their 18 years of marriage both Lorraine and Marvin constantly remarked how happy and fulfilled they were at this point in their lives. Their blended families bonded together so well and it was great to experience this on several occasions when Jean and I were able to visit on special occasions, especially the big family reunion in 2000.
Now I digress for a moment:- Unbeknown to my family and Marvin, his dad taught me a very valuable lesson back in my pre-school days in Viking. You know the commandment “Thou shalt not steal”? Well he caught me in the act! Mel Wenstob and I had developed a fairly successful business of “recycling” pop and beer bottles from the back of Kelly’s Hardware, around to the front, where we would “resell” them. It worked good for awhile. Anyway, on this occasion Mel got away! I got caught! Marvin’s dad put me over his shoulder and carried me off down Main Street to Streit’s Butcher Shop, all the while explaining that he would have Mr. Streit turn me into sausage for stealing bottles. After much pleading and assuring him I would never steal again, he let me free. I probably never went back to Kelly’s Hardware until after the Lawes moved away from Viking.
As fate would have it, after Marvin and Lorraine were married, and I was on a regular visit to Kelowna, Marvin said, “Ronnie, come on over and meet my Dad!” How we all laughed when we both revealed our well kept secret to our families after about 50 years, and I had the opportunity to thank him for that very profound lesson he taught me.
Since then Jean and I have enjoyed frequent visits with Lorraine and Marvin, several joint Christmases, and even vacations. Our kids and grandchildren literally fell in love with both of them.
Lorraine has knit afghans for all 14 of our grandchildren, and I’m sure she also did the same for many others.
Such was her life, creating happy memories for us all, and getting great pleasure out of serving others.
She leaves us all with wonderful memories of a beloved mom, wife, grandmother, and sister, and a legacy of love and adoration.
Thanks be to God for her life and love.
Ronnie
