It is with heavy hearts we share with family and friends, the passing of Eileen McKillop (Brown) on Wednesday October 24, 2018, in the presence of her daughters Barbara and Iris.

 

Eileen was born at Kaleida Manitoba August 13, 1926, the daughter of Robert E and Violet M Brown.  Her parents moved to Pilot Mound where her early schooling took place.  In 1939 the Browns moved to Ochre River Manitoba where Eileen’s father worked in a local garage and then with Legion Services at #7 Bombing and Gunnery School as director of physical services with other related duties.  Eileen completed her schooling in Ochre River and at an early age worked as a telephone operator at Ochre River.  From Ochre River she worked for Manitoba Telephone system at Neepawa, briefly at Wasagaming and finally to Dauphin where her parents had moved around 1945, working at MTS there until she married

 

Eileen met her husband to be, Jim McKillop at a dance in a small rural school (Eclipse) located several miles east of Dauphin in 1948.  Rural dances were important social events after WWII ended.  And how they loved to dance.!

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Eileen married James L McKillop (Jim) in Dauphin Oct 26, 1950 at the United Church manse in Dauphin with her cousin Merle Mitchell as bridesmaid and Pat Harrigan as best man, a friend of Jim’s.  A small reception was held at Eileen’s home with her mother, the caterer.  The guests included immediate family and the wedding party.  Following the reception they took off for a brief honeymoon in a 1950 Austin sedan (which Jim had acquired by dealing off a ½ ton truck and a cow)!  Their honeymoon took them as far as Minneapolis for approximately a week but had to be cut short so Jim could get back to farm and get the balance of the 1950 crop harvested. Their first winter of marriage was spent in a rented suite on 3rd Avenue N East – a house the family later lived in for about 5 years in the 60’s.  In the spring of 1951 they moved to the farm and remained there until the spring of 1960 when Jim left the farm to work for Farm Credit Corporation. 

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Two daughters were born while living on the farm; Barbara in 1952 and Iris in 1957. The family moved to Grandview Manitoba in 1960 when Jim took employment with FCC, although he did continue farming operations with his cousin on the homestead. In 1962 the family returned to Dauphin where Jim and Eileen lived until 2007.

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Eileen was predeceased by her husband James L in 2007, her father Robert E Brown in 1961, her mother Violet M Brown in 1998 and her brother Gordon in 2009.

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She is survived by her daughters Barbara (Dave) Hollyoake of Gimli and Iris (Bill) Goertzen of Winnipeg; as well as grandsons Chris(Sheryl), Jeff (Lori), Kyle (Kate), & Cody; and 4 great grandchildren Brittany (Scott) Kuz, Alex (Stephanie), Tayler, Paige, hence her nickname GG;   as well as many nieces and nephews.

 

With Dad’s passing in 2007, Mom remained in Winnipeg near her family, living with Barbara for a short time then moving into West Park Manor until her passing.

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Mom loved music and could be heard singing along to any tune from the 40’s and 50’s, knew the words to every song.  She loved to sing along at Hymn Sing on Fridays with Liz, a very dear companion, who became a sister to Barbara and Iris in the years at West Park Manor.  She also enjoyed the company of Susan, Sherry, Katlynn as companions throughout these years.

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Mom was happiest when she was with her family, loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren and their antics! In these latter years Tayler and Paige, being the youngest great grandchildren provided some much needed diversion! Our family often met in the family room at West Park Manor with pot luck meals to enjoy with GG. 

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The family wishes to thank West Park Manor staff for their care throughout these 11 years, at times not easy, but very much appreciated by the family. 

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We will miss you Mom, Grandma, GG; you will always be in our hearts.

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You're in a better place now, but your place here on earth will never be filled.

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