Obituary of Ellen Lilian McCullagh

McCULLAGH: Ellen Lilian (Harper) Lilian ,beloved mother of Enid and Lucille, grandmother (6), great grandmother (17) and great, great grandmother (1), passed away on, June 6, 2010, at the age of 106. Lilian was born in Minnedosa, MB August 3, 1903 to Minnie and Arthur Harper. She attended Hazelwood School and teacher training in Dauphin and Winnipeg. She taught throughout southern Manitoba for 10 years before marrying John Floyd McCullagh July 11, 1934 (predeceased Lilian in 1993). Lilian resided in Killarney, MB until 1944 when they moved to Brandon where she lived an active life. She taught for the Brandon School Division and was a correspondent for the Winnipeg Free Press. Lilian sang in the Knox United Church choir for 30 years and was active in the First Presbyterian Church. In 1990, at age 87, Lilian's book, On Wings of a Dove, was published. In 2008 it won an award in the Canadian National Poetry Contest. In 2000, Lilian moved to Edmonton to be with her family and she continued her active lifestyle, including weekly pool games, hymn sing, rhythm band and Chair Yoga, which was featured across Canada by Canadian Press in 2007. Her latest accomplishments included participating in a televised baseball game for her 106th birthday, modeling in a fashion show in May, 2010, and meeting Dr. Roberta Bondar (Canadian astronaut and neurologist) where they visited and exchanged books this past March during a special presentation at the Northern Institute of Technology in Edmonton. She will be sorely missed by her entire family but will be welcomed in heaven by all her friends and family. Funeral will be held Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 2:30 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 339-12 Street, Brandon. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church.