June 26, 2021
It is with great sadness that Mom/Nana passed away June 26, 2021, peacefully at CDH surrounded by family at the age of 98.
Born in Saskatoon, Sask, the family moved to Salt Spring Island after Muriel graduated. She worked for Mowat's for a short time before moving to Victoria to work at the Bank of Montreal. It was there that she met dad/Ted Toombs, her first husband during WWII, they married in 1947. The couple resided in Vancouver, Tofino, Ucluelet, Nanaimo, Port Alberni, finally settling in Duncan in 1965. During these moves they met many lifelong friends, raised two daughters, spending 45 years together before Ted's passing in 1992.
Muriel was lucky enough to find love again at 70 years old with Robert Gray. They spent 27+ years adoring each other, and growing old together.
She is predeceased by husbands Ted and Rob, her stepdaughters Darlene and Heather, grandson Brayden, as well as parents, siblings, and almost all her friends. She is survived by her daughter Laura (Bill), granddaughters Sharlaina (Jon), Michelle and April, great grandchildren Madison, Sarah, Adam and Nicholas. Rob's children, nieces and nephews.
After many years as the Cowichan Valley Welcome Wagon Hostess, she decided to write her Real Estate Course at 50 years old. She was a local realtor for 13 years with Nanaimo Realty and later Century 21. Mom was an amazing volunteer. She was one of the founding members of the OAP Harmonica Band, spent years volunteering with Meals on Wheels, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Red Cross and Honorary Life Member with St. John's Ambulance. Her love of music never stopped, she loved to dance, ironically meeting both husbands at a dance. She played multiple instruments, sang in a choir and with the Cowichan Polyphonic Singers.
Mom had many friends, she was very social, positive and had a heart of gold. She was a devoted mother, and an amazing nana that loved being an active part of her grandchildren's lives. She loved to garden, camp, paint, knit, sew and shopping (yes, that is where her daughter got it from) in the earlier years. Her later hobbies were her Harmonica Band and eventually Bingo.
Losing her beloved Rob during Covid was extremely hard, and not seeing family in person for over a year took its toll on her. We are thankful that she got to hold our precious Maddy, and that we were able to get a four generation picture. But sadly, our dear mom/nana was ready to go join those she had lost. She will be forever loved, and so deeply missed. The family will hold a private ceremony at a later date.
Thank you to the caring staff at Oyster Harbour for their care over the past few years.