Ivy May Cunningham, 1910-2003

One of the pioneering residents of the Little Smoky region, Ivy May Cunningham, passed away on Jan. 6, 2003. She was born on June 7, 1910 and was 92 years old at the time of her passing.

Ivy was born in Edmonton and was the second of nine children. Ivy's father worked for the railroad and the family moved frequently. This caused hardships because the family traveled with a covered wagon with horses. She went to school in Saskatchewan for the first year of school, them moved to Smith, Alta. for six years until she was a teenager. She then moved back to Edmonton, this time to work. She earned enough money to help her family pay the rent. She was only 14 years old.

Ivy liked High Prairie so she came to work for the Spendiff family. During this time she met her future husband, Peter Cunningham, a Saskatchewan boy who lived in the Little Smoky area. They dated each other and married in the High Prairie United Church, which is now the Lutheran Church located at Triangle. It was a quiet wedding. Ivy said she did not have holidays as there was too much work to be done. She fondly remembers singing with the Salvation Army for three years.

Peter and Ivy became the parents of two boys, Peter and Norman, and they lost one baby at birth.

Ivy's husband was tragically killed in 1951 by a tree falling on him. This left Ivy alone and struggling to keep the farm going and raise her boys.

Gordon Florence came into her life and offered her help. They married at the end of 1952. There were no further children, just lots of work. Gordon died in June 1994.

Ivy's son, Peter, died of cancer in 1992 which was another hard time for her. Her strong faith kept her going. This courageous little lady has two grandsons and four granddaughters. She resided at the J.B. Wood Nursing Home since 1994.

Ivy is survived by: one brother, Douglas McLean of Vancouver; four sisters, Margaret Brown of Valleyview; June Ingebretson of Edmonton; Ilene Fuller of Winnipeg and Fay Cunningham of Power River, B.C.; her son and daughter-in-law, Norman (Buzzie) and Beth Cunningham, of High Prairie; and daughter-in-law, Betty Cunningham, also of High Prairie; as well as six grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, relatives and friends.

"Granny", as she was affectionately known by all, was surely the sweetest, most generous lady to ever walk the face of God's earth and she will be sorely missed by many people.