Mildred Mae Davies

January 24, 1931 – February 12, 2023

It is with great sorrow that the family of Mildred Davies announces her passing on February 12, 2023, at the age of 92. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who will be greatly missed.

Born in 1931 at home on the family farm east of Nanton to Harold and Sarah Garbutt, Mildred was one of six children. Unfortunately, her cherished baby brother, Bruce, died in infancy, so she grew up as the youngest of five.

Mildred enjoyed growing up on the farm and as a child, she had fun piling on the family horse, Big Tony, with all her siblings. She went to school in Nanton. After finishing grade 12, Mildred attended Henderson Secretarial College in downtown Calgary.

Mildred met the love of her life, Gordon Ivan Davies, at a community dance in Nanton. They were married in 1950 and lived in Hartell (Mercury Camp), Alberta, where Gordon worked at the Purity 99 gas plant. In 1961, Gordon took a job with PetroFina and the family moved to Cochrane.

In a tiny two-bedroom home just off Main Street (now the Jaipur Restaurant), Mildred focused on the task of raising five children in an era characterized by weekly laundry in the wringer washer in the basement, frozen clothes hanging out on the backyard line, tending a huge garden, canning fruit and vegetables in the fall, and chasing after all those children!

When the children reached their teens, Mildred worked for a time at the Scott Lake Hill gas station restaurant on the Trans Canada Highway. She then began at Big Hill Lodge, where she worked for nearly 20 years before retiring. Mildred was an avid curler in her younger years and later developed her passion for both golf and painting. She also traveled widely, including adventures in places as far-flung as New Zealand, Australia, Africa and South America. In her later years, there wasn’t a puzzle she wasn’t willing to tackle! Her favourite saying “Fer crackin’ ice!” will live on through the many family members and friends who have adopted it.

Mildred is survived by all her children: Theodore (Eileen) Davies, Leslie (Robert) Davies, Ivan (Lynda) Davies, Arletta (Bill) Cross, and Teresa (Bill) Ostlund; her sister, Phyllis Smith; her ten grandchildren: Brenden and Tyson Davies; Kenzie House and Carla Mae McFarlane; Malcolm, Devin and Austin Cross; and Michaela Hripko and Liam and Paul Ostlund; as well as eight great-grandchildren: Ethan and Emma Davies; Adalynn and Remmy House; Emerson and Maia McFarlane; and Talon and Steele Cross.

She was predeceased by her husband, Gordon (1988); her brothers, Lewis and Donald; her sister, Arletta; and her infant granddaughter, Amber Cross.

A private interment will take place on Saturday, February 25

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, followed by a public Celebration of Life at the Cochrane Alliance Church at 12:00 pm. Tea and refreshments to follow. We hope you can join us to celebrate Mildred’s life!

If desired, memorial donations may be made to Mildred’s favourite charity, STARS Air Ambulance.

Cochrane Country Funeral Home – cochrane@piersons.ca

Arrangements entrusted to Emily Champ, Funeral Director To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mildred Mae Davies, please visit our flower store.