June 15, 1928 - March 6, 2021
It is with sadness that the family of Molly Millicheap announces her passing on March 6, 2021. Molly was predeceased by her husband Tom, siblings Jack and Bill and half-sister Elsie. She leaves behind her sister Marge and half-sister Rose; her children Judy, Joan, Jim (Lisa), John (Lynn); grandchildren, Graham (Trish) , Kayla, Nathan, Thomas and Rachel; and great grandchildren; Pearl, Calista and Quinn.
Molly Elizabeth Graham was born June 15, 1928. She grew up on a farm in Langley with her father and three siblings. Although she grew up poor, worked hard and had no outside social life, she had no regrets.
One of the stories she told was that when she was five it was her job to get up early in the morning, keep the fire going, set the table and stir the porridge while the rest of the family were milking the cows and doing farm chores.
Her father sold the farm when she was 17. She moved with him to Lindberg Island (a small islet off of Lasqueti island) where she helped him clear land, cut lumber in the sawmill and build a cabin. She then moved to back to Vancouver where she worked at Essondale Hospital as a nurses aide.
After a couple of years she returned to Lasqueti, where her father helped her build a house at Scotty Bay. She worked at the Lasqueti Island store where she met and married Tom Millicheap a fisherman/logger.
The happiest years of their lives were spent at Lasqueti. Tom and his partners, Peter Forbes, Trent Wamer and Fred Livingstone worked expanding West Point Timber and Lasqueti Fish company while Molly was a homemaker raising four children and attending to her massive garden.
Over the years her sister Marge and family would holiday on Lindberg Island while Tom's cousins Alex, Helen and families would holiday at the farm at Ogden Lake on Lasqueti. There were many fun picnics and social gatherings.
After many years of non-stop working Tom was finally persuaded to take a vacation. He and Molly discovered Hawaii. They liked it so much there that they bought a condo and discovered they loved to play golf! Quite often the family, including the grandchildren, would join them there for Christmas.
After her husband passed away, Molly lived in three different places in Parksville/Nanoose, putting in large gardens at each place. Visitors always left with flowers or produce from the garden. A couple of her gardens were on the Mother's Day Garden Tour.
During her later years a highlight of her week was going to Nanoose Hall for her exercise class. The class itself, the instructors, the staff, the goodies afterwards and of course her friends- she enjoyed it all!
Another highlight was meeting her friend Eva Brown every Saturday morning at the Rocking Horse Pub for lunch.
Molly was a down-to-earth person who was kind, generous, and had a wicked sense of humour.
The family would like to thank the Nurses, Care Aides and Staff at Eagle Park Care facility for their kindness and compassion. The family would also like to thank all of the Caregivers and friends who helped Molly in her home during these last years.
The family will hold a gathering in honour of Molly at a later date, probably sometime in the summer months.
If you have a garden, plant a flower for Molly!