ULRY
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Leah Alice (Peck) Ulry; our beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister & aunt on May 4, 2015 at the age of 94 years old. Leah was born at home at Red Lodge (8 miles west of Bowden), on December 21, 1920 to her parents Charles & Emily Peck who came to Alberta from England. Leah attended Red Lodge School. Growing up in the 30s was difficult; with 5 kids, entertainment was found with weekly dances at the Hillcrest Hall, playing cards with the neighbours, riding horses, sleigh riding, & making their own entertainment. For spending money Leah & her siblings snared gophers for the local fox farm. At the age of 15, Leah tried housekeeping in Calgary but in her words, “it wasn’t her cup of tea”. She went home and found work cooking for the neighbours for $1/day. At age 16, she made $10/month helping out her Krueger cousins west of Didsbury by cooking on their farm with 2 hired hands. In spring of 1940, she did housework for the Ulry’s where she met Clifford. They were married on July 14, 1940. The couple lived in Trail, BC for 1 winter and came back to Alberta in the spring to farm at River Side Stock Farm. Leah & Cliff’s first child, Orville, was born May 20, 1941 in Olds. They moved to farm west of Bowden and on October 31, 1943 their daughter Doreen was born 2 months premature in Innisfail during a snow storm. That winter they gave up farming, moved to Calgary & Cliff joined the army. On June 10, 1947 their youngest son Ronald was born. They lived in Calgary until 1950 then moved back to Olds. In 1953 they moved to an acreage and in 1954 bought a farm west of Bowden in the Garrington District. From 1971-1987 Leah worked at Travelaire Trailers in Red Deer. Leah cared for her mother Emily until her passing in 1981 and her brother Bob who had cancer and passed in 1985. Leah’s toughest challenge was travelling to Calgary every weekend to visit her youngest son Ronald who was diagnosed with leukemia. He passed away December 31, 1989.
Life highlights were a trip to Australia & an Alaskan cruise with her daughter & friends. Leah moved from Red Deer to Olds in 2001 and has lived here ever since. Leah is an Alberta, prairie, born pioneer bred lady who has survived as much or more than a cat with nine lives. Many traumatic events including a horrible cut on a bike rack, a compound fracture of her ankle in 2013 & many close calls of colds & flus did not keep her down or her sense of humour at bay. She enjoyed gardening, jig saw puzzles, many day trips in the country with her daughter & skunking many family members while playing crib. She will be deeply missed. Leah was predeceased by her brothers Archie, Bob & sister Mary Peck, son Ronald Ulry & son-in-law, Art Battram. Leah is survived by her children Orville (Shirley) Ulry; Doreen Battram; grandchildren & great grandchildren; Kevin (Lori), Kyler, Jared & Brynne; Joelle (Gerard), Cheryl, Kody & Brooke; Tara (Josh); 2 sisters Verna & Melva as well as numerous nieces & nephews. Graveside services were held at the Bowden Cemetery at the request of the deceased. In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to the charity of choice. Heartland Funeral Services Ltd., Olds entrusted with arrangements. 403-507-8610 www.heartlandfuneralservices.com