LORRAINE CARLIER

December 21, 1928 ~ June 4, 2019

It is with profound sadness the family of Lorraine Rita Carlier announce her passing on Tuesday, June 4, 2019, at the age of 90 years. She was born on December 21, 1928, on an usually warm day in Athabasca, AB. Lorraine and her sister, Ruth grew up with wonderful parents; mom, Jean, a feisty little Irish girl and dad, Rosario, a feisty little Frenchman and five first cousins who lived down the road. She walked four miles to school, skied, skated and loved to dance. Lorraine was optimistic, fearless and classy from her earrings to her heels. She was always put together well and always dignified.

Lorraine graduated from Grade 12 at 16 years old. In 1947, at the age of 18, she began working at the Athabasca Imperial Bank with her sister and continued working there until 1951. One day in 1951, while having lunch with a friend she met a good looking 18 year old Wallace ‘Wally’ Carlier from Val Marie, SK., who was working on construction. It was instant attraction! In July 1952, they drove to Calgary with plans to meet her parents and take in the Stampede. Instead they decided to elope; arriving in Great Falls, Montana in time to buy a license, get blood tests, rings, a minister to marry them and along with a witness. They never did have a picture of the day, but there are 60 years of pictures after that day to treasure.

Wally worked in construction and in the bush so they moved many times in Alberta where in 1954, Rhonda Jean and in 1955, Wallace ‘Darryl’ Ross were born. In 1960, they were living near Bracken, SK., when Lindsey Lloyd was born. By 1961, they settled permanently a mile north of Val Marie and continued farming and ranching. Lorraine helped with everything on the farm, made great meals especially butter tarts (Wally’s favorite) and sewed beautiful clothes for herself and the children. She worked at the Credit Union for a few years until she was hired as Village Secretary from 1964-1991. Lorraine cared about people and her adopted little town, volunteering on many committees.

When she retired from the village office, they moved to Medicine Hat. Lorraine loved her cozy little house on Rossland Drive S.E. and her wonderful neighbours there who helped shovel snow, mow and make sure she was okay. Lorraine worked for a few years at Darryl & Jan’s trucking company and enjoyed it. In her late 60’s, she completely changed gears and for seven years babysat Lindsey and Vinee’s four children. Lindsey bought her a mini-van and the kilometers piled up as she took them to hockey, skating, swimming and school activities all the while keeping up with all the awards, grads, convocations and lives of her other grandchildren. She also drove many kilometers to Swift current to visit Rhonda, Lorne and Wally on the farm.

When Lorraine retired for good at the age of 80 years, she spent 2-4 days a week playing crib acquiring a bunch of new pals; lovely people like, Cheryl and Ethel who called and visited with her right to the end. Lorraine sold her house in 2018 (following two summers of radiation treatments) and moved to an apartment in Chinook Village. She loved it there and had more people to visit with. She tried to stay enthusiastic but she slowly began to fade.

Lorraine is survived by her children; Rhonda (Lorne) Veitch, Darryl (Janet) Carlier, Lindsey (Vinee) Carlier; grandchildren, Melissa (Monty) Scory, Stacey Carlier, Lindell (Daniela) Veitch, Keelan (Nancy) Veitch, Jordan Carlier, Chelsey Carlier (Wacey), Tristan Carlier, Ciara Carlier; great-grandchildren, Madison and Mason Scory, Shay Carlier, Ivy McCallum, Liam Veitch, Zoe and Daphne Veitch; her dear sister, Ruth West; loving cousins, June Gora and family, Louise (Paul) Kavulok and family, Caroline LaPorte and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Rosario and Jean LaPorte (1990); husband, Wallace Carlier (2011); brother-in-law, Ron West (1978); niece, Carol West Petit (2015); aunt, Agnes and uncle, Arthur; cousins, Bob, Edna and daughter, Linda, Art LaPorte.

If we had a second chance

We’d tell you again how proud

We were to have you guide our lives.

If we had a second chance

We’d tell you again we love you

And beg you not to go.

Words cannot express how much we will miss you forever mom, grandma and great-grandma. Lorraine’s life will be celebrated privately by the family. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be directed to a charity on one’s choice. (Condolences may be expressed by visiting our website at www.cooksouthland.com) Honoured to serve the family is

Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13th Street S.W. Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4V4 Phone 403-527-6455