February 6, 1926 – January 31, 2016

Hello, Dorothy Reedman here, a quick note to let you know I’ve moved on to my next adventure. I’m pleased to have hit my plan mark of living to the age of 89, with extra time added, passing just 5 days short of my 90th birthday.
I was born in Watrous, Sask. in 1926 and I entered this world feet first. 
I was my parent’s first born. Then came my sister Philis “Kelly” next my brother Ken, Lincoln and later my baby sister Shirley “Bodman”.
My life has been blessed with many wonderful memories. My earliest memories were growing up in Sask. on my family’s homestead situated between the small towns of Imperial and Simpson, and I have happy memories of attending the one room school house called Sweet Hill.
In 1938, with the problem of climate change on the Sask. landscape and the Depression known as the dirty thirties, my parents like many other families at that time, left Sask. and moved west to B.C.
I was 13 years of age when my parents purchased land in the Cariboo at a place called Horsefly. Here I learned to use the cross-saw and helped my parents clear the land and build our log home.
My father worked at several jobs along with maintaining a trapline. Those years and that lifestyle were tough on the whole family and in 1942, my parents moved the family to Kamloops and they bought the original Pratt’s homestead along Campbell Creek Road in Barnhartvale. 
When I was 17 years old, my sister Philis and I found work at the T.B. hospital home at Tranquille. We lived there and worked as kitchen staff and we loved every minute of it. I had many new friends who were co-workers and patients. There was so much entertainment, from movies, dances, baseball games, good times of hiking and daily visits to the dairy barn. The food was great and I had food I had never tasted before. On my days off, I would go home to Barnhartvale where I found odd jobs such as raking hay, being a cowgirl and moving cattle, canning fruit and working in my mother’s market veg. garden.
This is when I met the cowboy and rancher farmer named James Murray Reedman. He owned the land further down Campbell Creek Road.
We fell in love and in 1945 we married. A year later we bought the historical Barnhart House and its property and we became dairy farmers. This was an exciting time for me, I had my first child and because the house was large the home was always filled with friends and family.
In 1954 all B.C. interior dairies were being pushed out and this made for a career change along with a huge lifestyle change for my family. We sold the farm and moved into town. This was a a step up from our farm life, we now had running water, an indoor toilet and electric lights. 
We raised 6 children- Lanny, Vivian, Dennis, Karen, Lois and Kenny. 
Life was good. Murray and I enjoyed our membership with the Kamloops Moose Lodge. Camping, fishing and hiking were a cheap but fun family activities, and in 1967 I went back to work as a motel housekeeper. The extra money helped buy our first travel trailer and Murray and I became traveling tourists. In 1997, Murray passed away. 
I then fulfilled my dream to be an international traveler.
I am proud to have lived in my Nicola St. home for 60 years, and my life has blessed me with 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Words of Wisdom, “Get along with all others, and always find forgiveness.”
As to my Service wishes, I’m spending my money on a traditional funeral because I deserve the best like the Queen’s Mother. So please come and feel welcome.
Thanks for being my Friend.
Love Dorothy
Service will take place Friday, February 5th, 2016 at 1:00pm at St. Pauls Cathedral located at 360 Nicola Street with a tea directly after in the Parish Hall.
A special thanks to all the Pine Grove Staff.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Heart and Stroke Fund, 729 Victoria Street, Kamloops, BC, V2C 2B5 in my memory.
Condolences may be made to
www.schoeningfuneralservice.com
 

• Date : 2016-01-31
• Location : Kamloops, B.C.