Battie,
Margaret Dick
Born April 16th, 1920 at Glasgow Scotland on the anniversary of the Battle of Culloden, passed away in Ladysmith General Hospital on February 1, 2003 after a courageous battle with heart disease, surrounded by her loving family. Predeceased by her sisters, Betty McMaster and Sadie Lindsay (Scotland) and grandsons John and Ronnie Warner. She is survived by her loving husband and best friend of 62 years Jack Battie, son Lindsay (June) Munro of Scotland; daughters Elaine (Reg) Warner, Glenda (Gord) Patterson. Valerie (Larry) Morgan all of Ladysmith and Vivian (Colin) Cameron of Nanaimo; Grandchildren David, Judith, Glenda & David Munro (Scotland), Scott (Laureen) and Kent Warner, Susan (Bob) and Gord (Michaela) Patterson, Shelley Wagner, Dean (Christine) Morgan, Laura (“Baba”) and Jack (Alana) Cameron; Great-grandchildren Ashley, Jamie, Genni, Rachel, J.D., Josh and Paige. Also surviving, sisters Isa Ross and Jessie Jarvie (Scotland), loving sisters and brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews and many long-time friends especially Babe Muir and Anne Timothy. Between the ages of 13 and 16 she competed for the Lyle Orr Gold Medal (highest achievable award for written and oral religious knowledge) in the style of the Free Church of Scotland. Winning the Junior, Intermediate and Senior medals in succession (at that time no one person had achieved this goal against a background of religious theologists who were training for the ministry). Other academic achievements included bursaries and book prizes for studies in French, Literature, Latin, Geography and History. Notable presentations were made by Randolph Churchill (son of Winston Churchill), and Helen Keller who presented Margaret with the complete set of leather-bound writings of William Shakespeare. After graduation, at the age of 15, she attended Inverness Academy for Nurse’s training and later worked in many castles as head dining room maid for Lord Lovett.
After arriving in Canada, on the Mauritania in February 1946, this Scottish “war bride” became affectionately know by many nicknames including Maggie, Scotty, Scotland Nana and “Hen”. She was very proud of her Scottish heritage and often quoted herself as being a ‘ship-wrecked Finn’ having no Tartan or Clan under her maiden name of Jarvie.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, February 5th at 1:00 p.m. in the First United Church, Ladysmith. Tea following at Ladysmith Eagles Hall. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers and hospice volunteers at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and Ladysmith General Hospital for their special care and attention to our wife and mother. Thanks also to Diane and staff at Sands Funeral Chapel, family and friends for their love and support. Flowers gratefully declined, donations to the S.P.C.A. “God Speed and We’ll Meet Again”.