Obituary of Willa Maxine Fullerton

Willa Maxine Fullerton (Bassett) 1931 – 2011 Willa Maxine Fullerton (Nee Bassett) was born on February 13th, 1931 in Lloydminster Saskatchewan. She was the daughter of Howard and Margaret Bassett. They resided in Blackfoo until 1937 when they moved to the Upper Cutbank area where many of the Bassett relatives already lived. Willa attended school at Upper Cutbank then moved into Dawson Creek for high school. She claimed while growing up her brother Don always got her into trouble. She loved to dance, bake and ride horses. After high school Willa went north with her brother Don where she cooked in an army survey camp. It was there that she met Slim Wilson. They were married in 1950 and moved to Ottawa for one winter. They then moved to Brooks AB for a short time, where their son Cliff was born. They then returned to Upper Cutbank to live next to her Mom and Dad, where they farmed and ranched. In 1952 they had their second son Dennis and in 1953 Gene was born. In 1958 the family moved to Sunny Brook where they built a house and continued to farm and ranch. Willa raised her family and worked on the farm. In 1959 they were blessed with their daughter Lori. Willa and Lori spent one summer and fall up north, cooking at one of Bud Fellers’ hunting camps. She thoroughly enjoyed the time spent there. In 1974 Willa moved to Dawson Creek where she got a job at the Pouce Coupe hospital in housekeeping. She continued to work there for ten years where she enjoyed many special moments spent with patients. In 1989 Willa married Wayne Fullerton. They enjoyed many hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and camping trips together. They also loved to spend time with their many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Anyone can tell you she made the best bread and cinnamon buns in the country. Willa was also famous for her carrot cake. She used this recipe when she baked and decorated many wedding, birthday and Christmas cakes. As a lot of you can attest too. Many weekends during the summer were spent at Wayne’s parents homestead in Sunny Brook. It was here that she planted and tended to a large vegetable garden which she shared with her family. This land was also home to Wayne’s sawmill, where they spent many hours sawing lumber. Willa got plenty of exercise stacking planks and packing slabs . Willa had a passion for caring for family and friends in need. She was never too busy to babysit her grandkids, great grandkids and the occasional dog. Willa passed away peacefully on July 26 2011 with her family at her side at the age of eighty. She was predeceased by her father Howard, her mother Margaret, brother Don and husband Wayne. Left to cherish her memory are her four children Cliff (Bev) Wilson, Dennis (Bev) Wilson, Gene Wilson, Lori (Tom) Krantz, Sister in law Vivian Bassett, Nine grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. A memorial service was held on August 2, 2011 at Bergeron Funeral Chapel, Dawson Creek, British Columbia with Carol Loney officiating. Inurnment followed in the Brookside Cemetery, Dawson Creek, British Columbia.