WILLS, Maureen Mary (Mo)
Maureen Wills, 84, passed away in her beloved
home of Cochrane on October 16, 2019.
Maureen was born in Bishopthorpe,
York England to Arthur and Kathleen
Scholefield on August 17, 1935. Maureen worked
on a farm for several years and had taken training
in Animal Husbandry before becoming a Radar
Operator in the Woman’s Royal Air Force in England.
Restless for new adventure she emigrated to
Alberta, Canada in 1960.
Maureen taught at the Old Sun School in Gleichen
on the Siksika Indian Reserve. She was ceremonially adopted by Rosaria
Red Gun into the family and given the name Od-ska-be-nake (Blue eyed
woman). She embraced the native spiritual way of life and even lived in a
teepee at the Calgary Stampede one year.
Maureen laid eyes upon Cochrane for the first time at the top of Cochrane
Hill on the 1A highway and vowed this to be where she would call “home”.
She moved to the Ghost River Ranch west of Cochrane and worked for
Agnes Hammond as a kennel and stable maid and dog trainer. Maureen
imported her beloved Bishop, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi from England. They
won numerous national and international shows. Maureen, a member of the
Pembroke Welsh Corgi Assoc. of Canada started a breeding program under
the registered name Hollowood Kennels with the goal of improving the breed
in Canada. She also worked for the Red Cross Blood Transfusion Services
in Calgary for about 10 years. Maureen was hooked on hiking and tenting
in Kananaskis Country with her dog Bishop, and in later years enjoyed
numerous trips with close friends in her motorhome. She also enjoyed a
good game of Bridge and loved a neat Scotch.
Maureen married the only man to capture her fancy, Frank on October 26,
1968. In July 1971 they were blessed with a daughter, Kathleen (Kathy).
Together they ran their sawmill, Maureen Forest Products up the Forestry
Trunk Road till they built their home on Jamieson Road in 1973. She drove
school bus for 18 years west of Cochrane and competed in School Bus
“Roadeos” on a provincial level. She was also active in the Scouting and
Guiding movement since the age of 5 and was affectionately known as
Grey Wolf amongst Scouters. Maureen diligently raised funds in order to
build a Scouting and Guiding Hall in memory of her husband who passed
in 1979. The building of the Frank Wills Memorial Hall is one of her greatest
accomplishments and a legacy left to be enjoyed by the town of Cochrane.
Volunteering was Maureen’s passion and calling in life. She was also a
member of the Jamieson Road Fire Department, Beaupre Community
Assoc., and Ghost River Pony Club. She was a founding member of the
Handi-Bus organization in Cochrane called Big Hill Activities Society,
Frank Wills Memorial Society, Fellow of the Calgary Scout Foundation,
Cochrane & Area Victim Services, Citizens On Patrol and Rural Crime Watch,
Affordable Housing Group, Seniors Task Force and the “Grey Matters”
pilot project. Other volunteer passions for Maureen included the Cochrane
Sustainability Committee, Warm Water Therapy Society, Seniors for Kids,
BP Guild, William Watson Lodge Society, Cochrane & Area Humane Society,
Cochrane Family & Community Support Services, membership to the Royal
Canadian Legion, Seniors on the Bow, judging Westbrook and Bearspaw
Fairs, 4-H public speaking judge, Calgary Kerby Centre. Maureen also
served two terms as a councillor on Cochrane Town Council.
Maureen has been awarded numerous accolades in her volunteer history
but a few that were dear to her heart were the Commonwealth Golden
Jubilee award, Cochrane Community Builder award, Provincial Seniors
Service Award, Medal of Merit, The Star of Alberta Award and The Order of
Cochrane.
Maureen is survived by her loving daughter Kathleen (Jonathan) Mills,
daughter-in-law Roberta Babott, grandson Robert Wills, great grandchildren
Jace Wills and Elexa Wills, sister-in-law Valerie Scholefield, nephew
Robert Scholefield, and niece Deborah Scholefield. She is also survived by
numerous nieces and nephews on the Wills side. She is predeceased by her
husband Frank, her brother Patrick Scholefield, her grandson Jim Wills and
her stepson Glenn Wills.
Memorial donations may be made to the Frank Wills Memorial Society or the
Cochrane & Area Humane Society.
The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the staff of the Big Hill Lodge,
the We Care staff and all the people, organizations and volunteers that
touched and enriched Maureen’s incredible life. She would always be the
first to remind people to pay it forward and not take life too seriously…
“smile”.
The celebration of Maureen’s life will be announced at a later date, however
to honour all that were touched by Maureen the community is offering an interim
informal ‘Afternoon of Remembrance’ to be held at the Frank Wills Memorial
Hall on November 21, 2019 between 2 pm and 6:30pm, on a drop in basis
to share stories and give condolences to the family. Additionally you may
email the family your condolences, memories and pictures of Maureen to
[email protected].
