Jones, Mickey (Rosella Gilbertson)

1919-2014

 

Sadly, I announce the death of my mother Mickey. She is survived by her daughter Sally Weber (Stan) and grandchildren Travis Weber (Margo), Bryce Weber, Krista Burnett, Blain Weber ten great grandchildren numerous relatives and friends. Her Granddaughter Lydia, her former husband Norman Jones, and her six siblings predeceased her. Mickey was born in Olds Alberta where she lived until the early forties. Her Dad gave her a Model T Ford, named Henryetta, for her sixteenth birthday. Her girlfriends formed “Mickey’s Gang”, a group of tomboyish, fun loving, girls who enjoyed outdoor activities like camping and sports such as women’s hockey and baseball. They loved adventure and were always travelling about in Henryetta. After graduation in 1938 Mom took Teacher training and taught at many one- room schools around the Olds area and in Empress. In 1942 she married Norm Jones and they worked tirelessly to build a future. Together they bought cars, fixed them up and resold them. Mom was a great diagnostic person and a good mechanic as well. In 1945 they bought a General Motors and a John Deere Dealership in Strathmore. With the income from the dealerships they purchased some farmland east of Strathmore.  They eventually parlayed this into a ranch near Claresholm. Mom was an avid curler and football fan. She had Stampeder season tickets for over 50 years. Her ladies team travelled to local bonspiels, where they had lots of fun and usually came home with a prize. Mom of course was the skip. In 1963 we moved to Calgary where my father had a real estate business. My parents divorced in the late sixties and Mom began her dream of seeing the world. She took an overseas trip every year as well as Canadian adventures. In the seventies she joined the Skyline Hikers. She hiked in the Rockies and also overseas. In her” later years” she travelled with my family internationally often bringing our five children to meet us for the holiday. It seemed effortless to her but I now don’t know how she ever did this. Mickey was honest, kind, straight- forward, loving, and extremely witty and fun loving. She was accepting, tolerant, and embraced change and differences of opinion with ease after a feisty debate. Mom loved people and I don’t think anyone ever dislike her. We are all grateful and privileged to have had her in our lives.

Please join us for a celebration of her life at the Calgary Winter Club, June 14, 1:30 pm. If convenient please RVSP to sally@sgweber.ca or phone 403-948-7273.  Her favorite charity was Operation Eyesight, operationeyesight.com, or 403-283-6323.