Obituary of Ila Elizabeth Morrish

Ila Elizabeth (nee Neill) age 89 years, of Stettler Alberta passed away on January 28, 2012 at the Stettler Health Care Centre. She was born on April 25, 1922 at Wetaskiwin, Alberta second daughter of Hugh and Bertha Neill. She, along with her sisters Florine, Gwendolyn and her brother Raymond attended school in Bittern Lake, a small country school located a short distance from their family farm. Life on the farm, although difficult, gave her a love of family, gardening, animals, nature and a very strong work ethic. Following school she received training as a hairdresser in Calgary, where she met her future husband, Alfred Geoffery Morrish (Geoff). They married in 1948 and born to this union was Frederick Geoffrey, Gwendolyn Hope and Allan Raymond. Geoff and Ila raised their family in Chigwell and Provost, Alberta. During her lifetime she also resided in Brant and spent her later years in Stettler. Ila’s life was devoted to others, her kind nature and gentle soul endeared her to many. She greatly enjoyed gardening and being busy doing her crafts of ceramics, cake decorating, painting, drawing and crocheting. But primarily she was a homemaker and she provided love and comfort not only to her own family but to many of their friends. She was a longtime member of the St. Paul’s Anglican Church and Women’s Auxiliary in Provost, also serving as a leader of the C.G.I.T. Ila is survived by her children: Fred (Rita) of Didsbury; Gwen (Gerry) Muhlbach of Big Valley and Allan (Arlene) of Didsbury; grandchildren: Don (Sherry), Red Deer, Scott (Rebecca), Red Deer, Brad (Leanne), Calgary, Jacki (Derek) Sutherland, Didsbury, Marianne (Ryan) Standbridge, St. Albert, Jillaine Muhlbach, St. Albert, Philip (Joyce) Litke, Didsbury, Paul (Lori) Litke, Stirling; ten great grandchildren: Anthony, Brandon, Courtney, Andrea, William, Hannah, Vaughan, Zachary, Jackson and Colton. She will be remembered by numerous nieces and nephews. Ila was predeceased by her husband Geoff of 50 years, sisters Florine, Gwendolyn, brother Ray, sister-in-law May Brittain, brother-in-law Gerry Barker, grandson David Morrish and her parents Hugh and Bertha Neill. If desired Memorial donations may be made to Willow Creek Lodge or a charity of your choice.