EVELYN JOSEPHINE MEEK (nee YALTE)
June 1st, 1928 - Friday, October 9th, 2020
“Ev”, “Evy Jo” passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Friday, October 9, 2020, at the age of 92. Born June 1, 1928 in Kerrobert, Saskatchewan, Ev grew up on a farm in Court, Saskatchewan. At 12 she went to live with the Cowan’s for a year to drive Patsy to school at Burnbrae on Kit, a horse she continued to talk about in her later years; then returned home for her early teens. She could not wait for the school dances that her brother Melvin and Uncle Leif would escort her and her sister Madeleine to. She also loved to play baseball during the summer and sing and yodel with Madeleine while milking the cows. Ev told the story that her father said the cows never milked the same after they left. At 18 she moved to Pinkham, and later to Madison, Saskatchewan to babysit for Marg and Gordon English for a year and completed her grade 11 by correspondence.
At 19, Ev decided to head out on her own with Doreen Gamage to Red Deer for 4 years. In Red Deer she worked as a waitress at the Peacock Inn and later as a telephone operator for AGT and met her future husband Donald Meek. They moved to Calgary, where she worked for Dominion Bridge and married in 1951. She had her family, taught Sunday School and was active in the United Church, dancing, curling, the Jaycettes and was a big Calgary Stampeders fan. Their home was always full of music, singing and dancing and open to anyone that needed it and in fact had many young people living with them throughout the years. In 1967 they moved to Edmonton and then later to a farm west of Stony Plain. In 1974 Ev moved back to Calgary where she worked for Dr. Carl Reich, Carpetland, Lewis Stationery, Alberta Gas Trunk Lines and later as a leasing agent for many rental properties in Calgary. Ev also volunteered for the Crisis Line and Fraternal Order of Eagles Ladies Auxiliary, as well as census taking and political activities for Ralph Klein. Ev was involved with Fashions of Yesteryear, and later created Golden Years of Fashion, where the group put on fashion shows, modelling outfits from the 1800’s through to the 1920’s in senior facilities, the Calgary Stampede, Banff Parade, Innisfail Pioneer Days and many other events in and around Calgary. This became Ev’s passion for many years, sewing costumes and decorating hats and dolls for the shows. Ev loved to go dancing, several times a week if she could. In the last 4 years Ev’s home was at the Sage Hill Retirement Home where she received wonderful care until her passing.
Ev will be missed by her daughters, Deborah and Lori (Bud); son, Glen (Wendy); grandchildren, Nicole (Jeremy), Krystle, Adam (Robyn), and Alyssa (Dave); great-grandchildren, Penelope, Cain, Atticus and Frederick; siblings Madeline (Frank), Doris (Ross), Wilfred (Marj), Benjamin (Marion), Phyllis, and Susan (Doug); along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Ev was predeceased by her parents, Peter & Thora (Dahl) Yalte and her siblings Melvin, Freida, Edna, Stanley, Herbert and Clifford.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Choice Memorial (105-4715 13th St NE) on Thursday, October 15, 2020 at 1:00 pm., followed by refreshments across the street at Koko’s Restaurant & Bar. Due to Covid regulations, the service will be limited to 35 people. Masks are required to be worn at all times within the funeral home. Please RSVP on the website so seating can be accommodated.
Ev’s cremated remains will be laid to rest alongside her parents, two sisters and two brothers, at Dorcas Cemetery in Compeer, Alberta on Friday, October 16.
A special thank you to the staff at Sage Hill Retirement Home for caring for Ev during the last 4 years.
To view and share photos, condolences and stories of Evelyn please visit www.choicememorial.com. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Choice Memorial Cremation & Funeral Services (403) 277-7343.