Maureen Isabelle (Marshall) Tatlock

With saddened hearts, we wish to announce the peaceful passing of the matriarch of our family; our Mom and Nana, Maureen Isabelle Tatlock.  Our Mom peacefully passed away on July 26, 2024, in the Lacombe Hospital at the age of 93.  Mom was born December 2, 1930, in Eckville Alberta, where her Dad, Joe Marshall owned the local hardware store. Mom was the middle daughter of Joe and Laura Marshall. She grew up in Eckville with her 2 sisters, Jo-Jo, and Mavis, and Pat and Nicky, their beloved cocker spaniels. Mom made many friends in Eckville, all remained close long into her adult life.

Mom’s summers were spent in Sylvan Lake at the family cabin. The summers were filled with dances at the Prom hall, roller skating at the roller rink and swimming in Sylvan Lake. This is where she met our Dad, Ralph. When Mom wasn’t at the lake in the summers, she could be found spending time at her Nanny’s farm at Condor. Little did she know she was getting a taste of the farm life that would become her life.  Mom took her schooling in Eckville, and after that was off to the Red Deer Composite to finish her high school. During the week, she lived in the dorms in Red Deer. This is where Mom met her many lifelong friends. She talked of being homesick and having to take the train home for weekends and holidays. After high school graduation Mom was off to Calgary to go to business school where she learned to take dictation and shorthand proficiently. While living in Calgary, Mom worked for Crane Plumbing until she was able to get back to Central Alberta. Once back in Central Alberta, she was employed by The Veterans Land Act, located in the old Red Deer Post Office.

On July 25, 1953, our parents were united in marriage at St. Luke’s Anglican Church in a double ceremony with her sister Mavis.

Home, before moving to the family farm, was a little suite in the main house on the old McCollough Farm. The McCollough Farm was located on the fringes of the City of Red Deer. During this time Dad was working long hours on the Tatlock Farm. Mom would walk to work from their little suite in the country to downtown Red Deer, through cold and snow in the winter and during the heat of summer.

In 1954, big changes came with the move to the family farm, 4 miles south of Bentley. This was the start of their family in the Blindman Valley.  Mom often spoke of how life on the farm proved to be very different from the way she grew up. She quickly adjusted and fit into the Rainy Creek community. Life was challenging being a farmer’s wife in the 1950s, this was a life that didn't come with the same conveniences she was used to.

Mom loved the farm way of life and she savoured the little things this way of life brought her. Mom was happiest when she was in her garden and tending her flower beds, they were a source of pride for her. Mom truly loved everyone in her family and would show them by showering them with kisses when they least expected it. She never left you wondering if she was happy to see you for a short visit or a long one. She relished each moment with family, she understood that family was everything, Mom loved to bake and all the kids talked about were those fresh buns out of the oven with homemade crab apple jelly, and how Nana let you eat as many as you wanted. The grandkids often remember driving the Cadillac to take Grandpa and Wes supper during harvest. A fond dessert was her white cake with hot caramel sauce. She was always ready with a hot cup of tea and you never went hungry. Mom was most content sitting next to Dad on the couch with a cat on her lap and a dog at her feet.

Mom will be dearly missed by her children, Cheryl and husband Randy Cox of Sylvan Lake, Diana Lynn Wilson of Sylvan Lake, Cameron and wife Tami of Ponoka, sister Josephine Sinclair of St.Albert, as well as 5 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.  Mom was predeceased by her parents, husband Ralph of 66 years, son Wesley, son-in-law Dwaine Wilson, and sister Mavis Swainson.

A Private Family Service will be held at a later date.

Memorial Donations in honour of Maureen may be directed to Saving Grace Animal Society https://www.savinggracecanada.com/

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