Margaret Gray

Margaret is one for whom it can be said: hers was a life well-lived.

Originally from Glasgow, she, her sister Betty and their parents emigrated to Toronto in 1925 when Margaret was 3. Her memories of that period were naturally hazy though a recollection of losing her hat on the voyage remained with her and throughout her life, she was fiercely proud of her Scottish roots.

Toronto was the city where she spent her childhood and adolescence attending St. Clement’s School for most of that period. In her early teens, she and a friend made up the nickname Teri, which she was known by for many years. It would probably have been forgotten had not the friend later become her sister-in-law! Margaret graduated from high school just before the second world war. She worked for a stockbroker until she as old enough to enlist and then served in the Navy based in Ottawa. That proved a fortuitous base as she met her future husband Don there.

In 1945, they married and settled first in Montreal, followed by Toronto and then moved back to Montreal, where their first child, Ann, was born. Shortly after, Don’s work took them back to Toronto where Ian was born. A couple of years later the family returned to Montreal. They stayed there until 1960, revelling in many family activities the city and its environs had to offer - including building and enjoying a summer cottage in the Laurentians on Lac en Coeur.

In 1960, Don was loaned from Dupont to the Department of Industry and this began a 6-year stay in Ottawa. This period was one in which skiing, hiking and camping were prominent family activities. Margaret also got involved in the Guiding movement as a Brown Owl, took art and language classes, performed in local theatre and volunteered in church and community activities. She was a stay-at-home mum and her home was one where friends were always welcome.

1967 saw the family moving back to Montreal but with the children requiring less of her time, Margaret pursued the dream she had had from high school days. She started on an Art History Degree at what was then known as Sir George Williams (now Concordia) University. Unfortunately, 2 years later, Don was again transferred – this time to Toronto where Margaret continued her studies at University of Toronto. She triumphantly completed her BFA in 1973 and shortly after celebrated her success by travelling with a friend to Italy, to soak up the art, the culture and language she had come to love.

Now firmly based in Toronto, with children no longer at home, she pursued other dreams. She co-wrote books for the general public on Canadian artists - Charles Comfort, Carl Schaeffer, A.J. Casson and Yvonne McHague Hausser. This gave her the chance to explore her love of Canadian art through research, interviews and writing and editing. Margaret also became a docent for several years at the Royal Ontario Museum. Here she was able to enthusiastically share her love of art history through researching, writing scripts and leading museum tours, especially related to the Egyptian, Byzantine and ancient Mediterranean worlds.

She took up yoga in the early seventies and in due course, became a yoga instructor after she had completed her 3-month training course at Yasodhara Ashram in the Kootenays in B.C. This was a time for her to explore many of her religious and cultural beliefs. The next 20 years were her time to put her study into practice through teaching, reading, and writing as well as editing the works by several spiritual thinkers. When Ann and later Ian had children, she created wonderful tales of magical adventures for them. Visiting her Calgary family and regularly seeing Toronto family Margaret offered much support and wisdom for her children and grandchildren.

She and Don had always enjoyed the outdoors touring many parts of Canada - camping, skiing, hiking, canoeing and bicycling. As Don wound down his career, there was more time for international travel and they often took their bikes overseas. They had cycling trips in Britain, France, Denmark and in Germany. They also had some fascinating visits to Egypt, Greece, Thailand, Eastern Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Portugal and India. Each trip whetted their appetite for even more travel and piqued their curiosity to learn more about the world we live in while developing and maintaining friendships in many parts of the world.

After Don died in 2008, Margaret stayed in Toronto supported by family and friends until the spring of 2011 when she moved out west to be close to her Calgary family. After several moves, she finally came to the Col. Belcher Veterans’ Home, where she received good care for the last 3 ½ years of her life. During this final period, she lived with an incredible level of acceptance and gratitude for what she was experiencing. Out in the garden, she would often remark, “Look at the blue, blue sky.” and on several occasions, she noted, “It’s a great day to be alive!” And, she was not without humour: in response to “I love you” she was fond of retorting, “It’s a jolly good thing.” In her final hours, she was among family and her passing was peaceful.

Her resilience, her curiosity, her unconditional love, her wisdom, her humour and her appreciation of the world around her have been inspiring. Margaret is missed but has left the rest of us richer for her presence.

A private gathering will be held in Calgary and at a later date in Toronto, where she spent most of her life.

In lieu of flowers, take some time to appreciate the natural world and the people around you.