Obituary of Violet Tompkins

Obituary Violet TompkinsJanuary 18, 1921 - November 10, 2008 Violet Amelia was born in Wales on January 18, 1921 to Mary and Thomas Davey. She was the eldest of three daughters. The Davey family immigrated to Canada when Violet was 9 years old and made Winnipeg, Manitoba their home. Violet attended school in Winnipeg and after graduation, she went to work at Deer Lodge Veterans Hospital. Violet was now 20. It was at Deer Lodge Hospital where she met a patient, then recovering from scarlet fever - named Brian Tompkins. Following a short 6 week courtship, Brian returned to his home in the Peace River country, but after a long distance romance which followed for a little over a year, Brian returned to Winnipeg, and Violet and Brain were married June 12, 1943. Due to the War and the gas rationing they had to sneak out of the city at night to head home to the Peace River area. Brian and Violet settled in with the Tompkins family at the Attachie farm on the Halfway River. The early years were difficult without electricity and running water, but Violet rose to the challenge. In the years following Violet and Brian had 6 children; Carolyn, Eric, Patricia, Barbara, Donna, and Bruce. The family moved back and forth from the farm at the Halfway to Fort St. John while raising their young family. In March of 1963 Brian was injured in a serious acceded; altering the course of Violet's life. In the years following Brian's accident Violet had the enormous task of being the primary care giver for Brian as well as raising the 4 younger children. Violet still found the time to knit, sew, and pursue her interest in needle-point. In 1971 Violet's father passed away and her mother Mary came to live with her in Fort St. John. They spent time traveling to Britain, Alaska, and California.Violet and Brian were blessed with 59 years together before Brian's passing away in 2002. During these years Violet had 14 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. Violet enjoyed the arrival of each and every new member of the family. Family was the centre of Violet's life - birthdays, weddings, Christmas and Boxing Day celebrations, as well as summertime bar-b-ques. As the grandchildren grew, Violet enjoyed taking them on holiday excursions; some of these included trips to Disneyland, Expo 86 and West Edmonton Mall. Violet liked to spend a lot of time working outside in her garden with her flowers and was noted for the beautiful tea roses, sweet peas, and clematis. Inside her home, her African Violets always seemed to be in bloom.Violet lived her years in a senior's complex where she enjoyed new friends and continued frequent outing with family. Violet passed away peacefully in her sleep at home, Monday November 10, 2008. Violet will always be remembered by her family as a loving, talented, warm hearted Lady who never had anything negative to say about anyone. Services