Dorothy Garnett

Dorothy May Garnett

nee Carter (Smith)

May 17, 1928 – May 19, 2019

It is with heavy hearts her family announces the passing of our mother, sister, and grandmother a day after celebrating her 91st birthday.

Survived by her son Craig Smith (wife Colleen, sons Drake and Angus) and stepdaughter Brenda Kroker (husband Donald and son Justin) and sister Rita Stefanuk (Edward). She is predeceased by her son Allan Smith, brother Lorne Carter; sisters Jean Carter, Iris Skwarek, Blance Sul; nephew Maurice Hanson; three children at birth and her parents, Bob and Mary Carter.

Mom was born in Teulon, to Bob and Mary (Scarf) Carter. She was raised on the families mixed grain/ livestock farm (with 30 horses,) 6 miles east of Teulon. Mom attended Hartley School, which was a 3 mile walk/ horse ride with her siblings and the neighbours (McConnells) attaining her Grade 8. She soon started work as a farmhand/ housekeeper for the Hunter McRae family. Later doing a stint in Winnipeg as a baker and cook.

At 20 in 1948 she married Martin Smith at Holy Trinity Church in Winnipeg and moved to the Smith Homestead in Meadowdale (Est 1892). Mom was a true jack of all trades, farmer’s wife, driving tractors and swathers, shoveling grain etc, a gardener, a pickler, butcher, (I can remember 6 deer hanging in our basement), egg farmer, family seamstress, painter/decorator, wedding cake/ Vinarterta baker, tree planter, and flower fanatic.

After Martin’s death in 1963, and with 2 kids aged 4 and 11, mom rented out the farm to her nephew Gorden Bowser and started her next adventure buying and moving a barn onto the property. The “Chicken Palace” was hatched along with Dorothy’s egg business, selling to Manco and customers in Selkirk. Mom was always quick to help taking in her nephew Maurice Hanson and raising him as her own till he was off and married. She did her stints caring for both her parents in old age. She cared for her son Allan when he lost his leg to diabetes and babysat grandson Drake as an infant.

In the sixties, mom worked at the Selkirk Mental Health Centre as a cook where she met her second husband Don Garnett along with his daughter Brenda. They married in 1967 and once again got back into grain farming. In the 70s, mom started her career at Manitoba Homecare starting as an attendant, eventually rising to the title of Home Care Co-ordinator in the Gov. Offices even using a computer. During this time the farmland was sold off to her cousin Dennis McRae and her marriage ended. She kept working till age 68 and retired in 1995 with over 25 years of service, then starting her new career as “Granny Smith” to her 3 grandsons.

Dorothy battled colon cancer for 10 years having 2 major operations in 2010 and 2015 to remove it as well as chemo /radiation therapy (Never losing that perfect hair). She was always dressed to the 9s; never without her makeup, jewelry and hair done just right. She was always a big supporter of the 3 Local Selkirk Bagpipe bands over the years as her son was a drummer. Dorothy was always so proud when her grandsons old time band THE BOG BOYS came to play at Red River Place. For Christmas 2018 we had moms D.N.A. tested and her results were as follows: English 83%, Ireland & Scotland 14% and Norway 3%.

 In the last weeks Dorothy spoke of being “ready to go” and not scared of what lay ahead. She was an independent lady and was found fully dressed at midnight hand washing her white socks in the sink.

   The family would like to thank all the doctors, nurses, healthcare aides etc. that cared for Mom over the years. Especially the entire staff at Red River Place for the great care.

The family gratefully declines flowers and as per Dorothy’s wishes there will be no formal funeral and her ashes will be buried at St. Andrews Church on the Red at a later date alongside 5 generations of the Smiths.

Mom you were the most caring, compassionate, helpful, loving mother anyone could have had. R.I.P. Sweet Angel…till we meet again.

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