Emily Clarine Lawr

Emily Clarine Lawr departed Ottawa for heaven on Sunday, May 12, 2024, at 84 years of age, in Ottawa Ontario at the Ottawa Civic Hospital, with her daughters by her side. Loving partner and companion of the late Bruce McKie (d.2013), and beloved wife of the late Douglas Lawr (d.1978). Loving mother to daughters Julia Lawr (Wayne Avery) of Barrie and Lisa Lawr (Steve Houseman) of Ottawa, and loving grandma to Aynsley Douglas and Catherine Emma (Ottawa). Dear sister to Sam (Marg) Leitch and Harvey Leitch of Erin; and dear sister to the late Mildred (Carney), Rhona (Davison), and Sadie (Poole). Dear Aunt to many much loved nieces and nephews.

Emily was born on January 24, 1940, to Bessie (nee Gray) and Ronald (“Rolly”) Leitch in Erin, Ontario. She married Douglas, her high school sweetheart from Belfountain in 1963. They moved to London Ontario where she taught primary school until she had two daughters. Emily was widowed too soon at age 38, and became a business owner that same year, unusual at the time for a woman. She ran a successful children's shoe store for 20 years, where she became well-known and beloved to families for her dedicated service and genuine care. Emily turned her love of children into her life's work, through teaching and her store. She met Bruce, her second life partner, and for 30 years they enjoyed dancing, camping, the backyard, cottage life, punning and word games. In her later years, Emily loved traveling with her children and grandchildren. After 50 years in London, Emily moved to Ottawa in 2021 to be closer to family.

Emily is best remembered for her sense of fun, laughter and high spirits, which she applied to whatever she was doing - working at the store, grocery shopping, raking leaves could evolve into fits of laughter over nothing. She made anything fun, especially the ordinary, and that is a gift. Emily loved music, whether singing her favorite hymns or dancing to the Leitch fiddling music she grew up with. Emily was happiest with family, loved a good party, dancing and lots of laughs. Her strong, uplifting spirit and faith in God carried her through difficult times; she always quickly regained her love for life, laughter, the simple things, to the great fortune of her children and grandchildren.

Emily was a doer, a goer, a worker, a shopper. She was unstoppable, 'busy doing nothing' as she loved to say, never bored or lonely, outdoing most around her with her endless energy. It is fitting that she was 'on-the-go' up to her last day, living life her way, which was going to church and shopping for a family dinner. Emily could be seen trekking kilometers to survey her shops several times per week, or to church, in any weather, in spite of increasing health challenges, and sometimes to the dismay of her family.

Emily created beauty wherever she was, with her eye for detail and style; she loved gardening, home décor, fashion and hostessing from an early age. She would redecorate into the night after closing the store at 10pm, stencil, paint, wallpaper. She was a talented landscaper, creating extensive gardens all around her home, including goldfish ponds and lighting. In her 80s, she turned heads with her sense of style and fun with fashion. She loved food, and loved to meticulously plan and execute elaborate brunches or dinners for guests; she celebrated the seasons, holidays - her 'traditions.' She “never served the same thing twice,' and “loved anything with the word 'new.'”

Emily loved Bible study and her spiritual reading; she attended WestPark Church in London, where she met a close circle of dear friends, and Fourth Avenue Baptist Church in Ottawa.

Friends and family are invited to the visitation and funeral service at MacKinnon Family Funeral Home (55 Mill St E in Acton) on Thursday May 30, 2024. Visitation will commence at 2pm, with the service following at 3pm. The funeral service will be webcast from 2:55 PM EDT to 4:00 PM EDT at https://funeraweb.tv/en/diffusions/93841. Interment of ashes at Blair-Belfountain Cemetery will occur at a later date.

Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to the Cancer Research Society, West Park Church (London), or Fourth Avenue Baptist Church (Ottawa) ("Haven Too Youth Shelter")