Lifelong resident of the Enderby area, Eleanor Skyrme (nee Mack) passed away on Wednesday, January 2nd at the Vernon Jubilee Hospital at the age of 99.
Eleanor was born in Enderby on December 8th, 1920, 2nd daughter of Will and Flossie Mack. She lived with her parents and sister Irene at Mackhaven on North Enderby Road in the shadow of the Cliff. She helped on the farm and rode her horse to school in Enderby until finishing grade 10.
Eleanor met Ernest Skyrme at a North Enderby dance in 1940 and were married June 5th, 1942. She moved to the Skyrme's Yew Tree Dairy Farm where they lived and worked together for 25 years. Children; Gail, Norman and Lorna were born and raised there.
In 1967, Eleanor and Ernie moved to a house across the road and sold the farm to the Verhoeven family, leading to the marriage of Gail to Gerrit Verhoeven. While in Grindrod, Eleanor was involved with the WI (Women's Institute), assistant leader of the 4-H Dairy Club and taking care of her grandchildren. In their retirement, Eleanor and Ernie enjoyed traveling with friends and family to warm places such as Mexico, Hawaii, California, plus many trips to Alberta to Lorna's farm until Ernie's passing in 1989. Eleanor then moved to her new home in Enderby with a view of the Cliff. She married Ron Holmes a long-time friend of the family in 1990. Here they both enjoyed working together in their flower and veggie gardens and traveling until Ron's passing in 2007. Eleanor loved working in her garden, and it was very common to see her with her little dog along with her neighbourhood friends gathered around her fish pond every evening.
Eleanor is known for her incredible wood carvings, which many are fortunate to have, but her talents didn't end there. She also worked with clay, soap stone, leather, decorated many wedding cakes and painted bird cards.
In the spring of 2019, Eleanor moved into Enderby Memorial Towers still in view of her beloved Cliff and tended her extraordinary orchids.
Eleanor was predeceased by her daughter Gail in 2002 and her sister Irene in 2005. She is survived by her children; Norm (Cheryl) and Lorna (Bill Gibson), 6 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren, 3 nieces and 1 nephew.
Many thanks go out to the many friends, neighbours and Home Help that made Eleanor's life as full and independent as possible. A celebration of Eleanor's life will be planned for in the spring, her favorite time of the year.
Online condolences maybe sent to Eleanor's family through her obituary at www.bowersfuneralservice.com. Arrangement in the care of Bowers Funeral Home, Salmon Arm, 250-832-2223.
Bowers Funeral Home and Crematorium