November 8, 1926 – November 23, 2023
In loving memory ~
1926 – 2023
Amy was born November 8th 1926 in Hamiota, Manitoba.
She passed away November 23rd 2023 in Nelson, British Columbia.
She was the firstborn child for Ernest Elmer and Rose Honor (nee Dendy) Bayes. Right from the start Amy followed her own path. Instead of her mother’s planned Winnipeg hospital birth Amy was born on her grandparent’s farm during a visit. The family was complete after brother Fred was born 17 months later. Of her growing up during the depression she told family tales of love and indulgence, not bleakness.
Throughout childhood Amy & Fred were best friends. Once they met their spouses they spent time together as a foursome. They enjoyed ice skating, movies, and cruising in cars. A story told involved taking the back seat out of the car, stealing corn from the local fields, and having to ride home sitting on the corn! Amy fondly remembered the fun of her youth.
She married John Robert (Jack) Graham in 1949 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. From their marriage 6 beautiful children were born. Amy was proud of each of them. With the Navy, Amy and family lived coast to coast. By 1967 Amy & Jack were separated. With an absent father she was both Mother and Father to her children.
Amy was a telephone operator for all of her adult life; first for Manitoba Tel, and then later BC Tel. In 1971 she was given the choice of 3 communities to transfer to. She asked her supervisor to choose since she didn’t know any of the areas. Her supervisor chose Nelson telling Amy that she had visited the area and thought it one of the prettiest places in the province, and Amy agreed. This random decision resulted in Nelson being the hometown to many of her grandchildren. Her career provided for her single parenthood household. It also provided her a comfortable retirement living at the beautiful Lake View Village after selling the home she was proud of purchasing on her own.
She loved to sew, and was so skilled she didn’t even need a pattern. When her girls were young she made them matching outfits. She was a fantastic cook who loved making big meals for her large family. Christmas was her time of the year. Tons of presents, home baked goodies to eat, and the house decorated so beautifully you would think it was a store window display. One Christmas she mistakenly used icing sugar instead of cornstarch for the gravy. It wasn’t too long before word spread that ‘grandma’s hair was falling down’, and everyone made themselves scarce. Amy’s signature beehive hairdo always had every strand perfectly in place. The first sign that things were askew was her hair coming undone.
Amy’s love of animals probably came from living on a farm as a child. She had dogs, cats, white mice, guinea pigs, hamsters, fish, birds, and even a squirrel monkey! Amy loved to dance & listen to Elvis. As a child of the depression her love of good deals stayed throughout her life, and she loved to go to garage sales with her daughters. Most of all she loved her family!.
Amy was predeceased by her daughters Jacki & Bobbi, son-in-law Julien, grandson Steven, brother Fred, sister-in-law Joyce, niece Cory, parents Ernie & Rose. Survived by her children: Patti (Greg), Toni (Terry), Troy (Jen), John (Kristine), son-in-law Jim, 17 grandchildren. 24 great grandchildren, 3 X2 great grandchildren, 2 nephews, and 2 nieces.
A mother holds her children’s hands for a while, their hearts forever.
As an expression of sympathy, donations to the charity of your choice gratefully accepted.
To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit www.thompsonfs.ca


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