Verna Joyce Percy (Nee Murdoch)
As published in the December 15, 2014 World-Spectator
Verna was born January 3, 1931 at Russell, Manitoba to Emma and John (Sandy) Murdoch. She grew up on the family’s farm near Spy Hill, Saskatchewan. She attended Bavelaw school and attained her grade 12 at Spy Hill school. She grew up with older brother Alex and younger brother Donnie.
After graduating, Verna became a teacher which took her to the Fairlight area, her first teaching position being at Byron School in 1949. She later taught at Dayton School from 1957-58.
While a teacher at Byron, Verna married Maurice Percy and later that year a son, (Maurice) Dale was born. They farmed at Maurice’s family homestead near Fairlight. The next four of their children were born while living at this location: Penny (1952), Beverlee (1954), Kevin (1959) and (Kenneth) Bradford (1962). In 1964 Verna and Maurice moved to another farm and shortly after, Shelley was born (1965) followed by Cameron (1967).
In 1972, Verna’s life as she knew it changed significantly when she endured a debilitating bout of encephalitis and cerebro-spinal meningitis. Despite an unfavorable prognosis, Verna surpassed all expectations and continued to live as full a life as nature would allow.
Verna and Maurice left the farm and moved into Maryfield in 1979 and they enjoyed the conveniences of living in town. Verna’s life took a sharp curve again in 1984 when Maurice died.
Over the next decade she made the transition from living for a brief time on her own, to living in more supported environments within Maryfield, at Heritage Haven then at Sunrise Villa. Being fiercely independent, these were not easy years for her but she managed to continue to find joy in her family and friends. In 2005 Verna moved to the Deer View long term care facility in Wawota where she came to be very content and thrived in the loving, caring environment.
Verna was full of life and known widely for her humor, wisdom, kind-heartedness and incredible strength. She was an athlete, excelling in ball, curling and horseback riding well into her 30s. She was a talented singer and as a teen had the thrill of singing on the radio. Verna was equally talented on the piano and for many years accompanied for school or community concerts, especially where her own children were involved. She also played at church. Her love of music never left her; what a gift for her family to hear her humming in the last days of her life. She thoroughly enjoyed writing, and a family favorite is a poem she entitled "A Higher Plane."
Being a social and joyful person, Verna enjoyed being part of a group and was active with the Dayton Ladies, UCW, and in her prime could be counted on to chaperone a 4-H trail ride or a school field trip. She wouldn’t miss a hockey or curling game, track and field day or ice show if her kids were involved. She wasn’t above playing a good prank on a neighbor, and as anyone with a great sense of humor, wasn’t afraid to tell a good joke on herself.
Animals, great or small, were a constant source of joy for Verna throughout her life. Cats, dogs, horses, deer, raccoons, bunnies, piglets, calves and baby ducklings all had a place in her home at one time or another and a place in her heart always. The two cats, Cleo and Caesar, who shared her home at Deer View, brought her such happiness and comfort and rarely left her bed in her final days of her life.
Verna’s greatest joy in life was her family. She was extremely proud of her seven children, welcomed their partners into the family and delighted in having the gift of grandchildren and then great-grandchildren. Faithful visits from her brother, Donnie, added brightness to her life. She strengthened and blossomed in the presence of her family.
Verna was predeceased by her brother Alex in 1973; mother Emma in 1974 and father Sandy in 1983; and her husband, Maurice in 1984.
She is survived by her brother Donnie Murdoch; her children Dale (Jan) Percy, Penny (Richard) Matte, Bev Percy, Kevin (Yvonne) Percy, Brad (Maureen) Percy, Shelley (Chris) Boardman, Cam (Val) Percy; grandchildren Tanis (Ian) Ihme, Natalie Percy (Tim Smith), Clint Percy, Sarah (Will) Jordan, Brittney (Scott) McDowell, Anthony Covello, Nicole (Brennan) Marsh, Jenny Percy, Callahan Boardman, Cara Boardman, Thomas Percy, Olivia Percy, Madeline Percy; and great-grandchildren Huxley Percy, Corban, Marek and Luke Ihme, and Charlie, London and Dutch Jordan.
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