Marie Beyers
It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Marie Beyers (Davidson) on December 18, 2021, peacefully with family by her side. She will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by her three sons Grant, Doug (Kelley), Ken (Darlene) and their families. She was a loving, caring and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She had a smile as big as her heart and would give of herself to support and provide whatever her boys needed. She was the backbone of our family and was their for all of us no matter what. She was the same with her husband Cliff as well, especially in his later years. Marie would say “Family has been their greatest joy”. Marie’s husband Cliff sadly passed away June of 2012 in Carman MB. after fifty-nine years of marriage.
Marie was born February 3, 1931 in Russell, Manitoba and grew up in Shellmouth Manitoba with her parents, William and Mary Ann Davidson, along with her four brothers and one sister. Marie spoke about attending school and the beautiful little United church that her family attended. She would tell of how her parents managed to provide for all of their children through the difficult times. Marie had a fondness for her mom and shared lots of stories that would tell you just what a special person she was.
At the age of seventeen, Marie left Shellmouth and found work with MTS for a few years as a switchboard operator in Manitou, Manitoba. Marie and Cliff met in 1950 at a dance and it was then that they started dating. It was June of 1951 that they became engaged. Marie and Cliff were married in August of 1952 at the Augustine United Church in Winnipeg, Manitoba with Marie’s brother Bruce and his wife Jean standing up for them. It was in their home in the St. Vital area of Winnipeg where they raised their three sons.
In the earlier years, the family spent their summer vacations camping throughout western Canada. Their traveling companions were Marie’s brother Keith, wife Marg and family. Years later when their collective enthusiasm for camping was wearing off, vacations and long weekends were spent in Shellmouth, Manitoba. Marie and Cliff’s family first stayed in Ab and Belle Bushe’s small rental place located across the road from Marie’s brother Ray and Anne’s family home. Then they stayed in their travel trailer for a couple of summers which was located at the back of Marie’s brother Keith and Margs lot. Marie and Cliff later purchased their “Bideawee” cottage in Shellmouth where several of Marie’s family owned either homes or cottages. For the next thirty years they spent their long weekends and summer vacations enjoying their bideawee and fun times spent with Marie’s family. Some of these times included Cliff, Marie, Keith and Marg playing many games of canasta, mostly the guys against the gals. The guys claim that they won most of the games. The ladies disputed this of course. Another game was lawn darts, the old school ones with the pointed tips. Surprising enough no one lost an eye or suffered a puncture wound through all of the many games or tournaments that were played at the Beyers. Croquet was another game played and later bean bag toss to name a few. Marie and Cliff did a lot of fishing down at the Asessippi dam near Shellmouth. They later bought a boat and went out on the lake to fish. To say that Cliff loved fishing would be an understatement. To say that Marie loved fishing would be an overstatement. But there she was catching fish by his side and later frying up the days catch. Shellmouth always had a special place in Marie’s heart. The beauty of the valley, with it’s surrounding hills, and the tranquility of this quaint town made it the perfect place for family to be together.
When Cliff retired in 1988 they began thinking of moving to the country. It was in 1990 that they moved to the lovely and friendly community of Carman, Manitoba. They really settled in there. Marie did some volunteering in the community and really enjoyed attending church services on Sunday. They both kept active going for long walks and working in their garden. They played lawn bowling and carpet bowling indoors at the Active Living Centre. Cliff also kept busy golfing as a member of the Roland Golf Course. They really enjoyed family coming out to visit and often staying overnight. In their retirement years, they continued their love of travel with Keith and Marg. Their travelling adventures consisted of visiting new places, enjoying old favourites and whenever possible spending time with family along the way. Some of their trips included Hawaii, Palm Springs, parts of Arizona and Vancouver Island. One of their most memorable trips was to Prince Edward Island to take in all the sights of this beautiful place and look into Marie and Keith’s family heritage.
Marie was most happy in the company of family and friends. She had that way that would always make everyone feel so welcomed. She enjoyed a good story, memory or a laugh or two. She had a sense of humour and wit that would surprise you at times and would inevitably make you laugh. She was very proud of her Scottish heritage and would sometimes spontaneously start speaking in a Gaelic accent which would most often elicit some good laughs. Her smile, her laugh and her warm hug will sure be greatly missed.
Special thanks to all the staff at Vista Park Lodge for their kind, compassionate and loving care. They became mom’s and our extended family for the two years that she resided there. Thanks to Craig Johnston of Doyle’s Funeral Home for his compassion and services.
A small family celebration of Marie’s life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, if you wish, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Manitoba, Manitoba Cancer Care or a charity of your choice.
