Merial Smith

In Loving Memory of

Merial Smith

A private family service will be held at a later date.

Merial Ann Smith was born on March 22, 1936 at the Whyman family farm in the RM of Invermay, SK to Archie and Janet (Whyman) MacDonald. Merial attended Lone Spruce School in the Hazel Dell RM and her sons Robert and Les own the land today where that schoolhouse once stood. Merial often talked about riding horse back with her brothers Raymond or Laird to get to school and it was about a mile and a half down the road. Merial attended school until about grade seven and took up caring for her younger brother Herb and helping around the farm with daily chores and homemaking.  Her brother Herb often says, “I spent a lot of time with my sister Merial and she was like a second Mom to me.” Her first job was a live-in housekeeper with the Scheller family from Okla, SK where she helped look after the children.

As a young lady, Merial loved to go out to the local barn dances where she met her dancing partner for life. William Henry Smith, better known as Bill, was raised just five miles down the road from Merial’s childhood home. Bill was the son of William and Flora (McCallum) Smith of Hazel Dell, SK. Merial and Bill were married on March 20, 1954 in the Preeceville United Church Manse. This started her most rewarding career of homemaker and mother and there is nothing she loved more than gardening and providing for her family of four. She canned and made authentic Granny Smith Apple Pies with cute little apple cut outs on top. Her homemade buns were the best and many would ask her to bring buns or pies for a potluck gathering.

The young couple lived with Bill’s folks until moving into their brand new home in 1964.  Merial often said, “We had to break all the land we own today, and this house here was brand new when we had it brought in.” This made her proud and so did the day the Smith Family gathered together and celebrated 100 years on the Family Farm in 2017. She always loved a good family gathering and visiting. The highlight of the day was getting to drive Walter Hughes team of horses on the farm. It had been many years since she had a horse ride and the smile on her face said it all.

Merial loved to attend the Hazel Dell dances even in the later years when Bill was gone because it always meant a good visit with neighbours and friends. She enjoyed her trips to Rama Pals with Elaine Busch and her phone calls and visits from Vicky Stefanyshyn.

Merial is survived by her children Robert (Margaret) and their children Joni (Scott), Amanda (Morley) and Robin (Dustan); Leslie (Lynn) and their children Lee (Tenille) and Lisa (Alex); Lloyd (LaVerne) and their children Synklita (Courtney), Amy (Austin), William and Jesse (Ethan); and Heather (Greg Gawrelitza) and their son Lyndon; eight great grandchildren: Zoe, Lexie, Rachelle, Kolby, Bailey, Teagan, Aleya, Ahri; one great-great grandson Karter; brothers Herb (Viola) and Mervin (Jolyn) MacDonald along with many nieces and nephews.

Merial was predeceased by her husband Bill (2005), parents Archie (1996) and Janet (2004), brothers Lenny (1961), Laird (1997) and Raymond (2010).

Merial will always be remembered as a loving and caring Mother who took care of everyone before herself and never asked for anything in return. She will live forever in our hearts as a precious treasure and will always be our Blue Angel by our sides. We take comfort in knowing that once again our parents are waltzing together, and our lives are fuller and richer because we were loved by them.