MCKINNON, Mary McLagan (nee Campbell)
November 1, 1915 - January 25, 2007
It is with deep sorrow we announce the sudden passing of our wonderful wife and mother, Mary McLagan McKinnon (nee Campbell) at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Comox, British Columbia, on Thursday, January 25, 2007, surrounded by her loving west coast family.
Mary was born November 1, 1915 at the mining town of Phoenix in BC’s Boundary Country to Charles M. and Lucy (McGeer) Campbell. Being a mining family, the Campbell’s - Mary and her brothers Charlie and Jimmy - moved around Canada and the world, from Phoenix to Grand Forks to Cassidy, to Montreal, then to Okeep in South Africa.
On returning to Vancouver, she attended Queen Mary and Lord Bing and in 1940 graduated from nursing at St. Paul’s Hospital. There being a war on, Mary then joined the Army Medical Corps as a Lieutenant Nursing Sister and served both in Canada and the Europe Theatre.
In 1942, while stationed at the Military Hospital in Nanaimo, Mary met and became engaged to a young army captain from Ontario, Gerry McKinnon. As “luck” would have it, they went overseas on the same troop ship, were stationed close to one another on Britain and when Gerry was evacuated from Normandy after being wounded after Falaise, Mary became his ward nurse. They were married at the Royal Garrison Church in Aldershot, England.
On returning to Canada, they lived and raised a family in Peterborough, Ontario, then moved back to Mary’s beloved west coast, living in Vancouver, Qualicum Beach and finally Comox. The McKinnons have two children, Mary Ellen Chapple, of Port Hope, Ontario and Tim (Gail) of Comox. There are two grandchildren, Sarah and Alexander, of Toronto.
Mary was a gracious, gentle woman and the best of mothers. On February 20, 2007, the McKinnon’s would have celebrated the 62nd anniversary of their love affair and marriage.
A private commemoration of Mary’s life will be held at a later date.
Arrangements entrusted to Comox Valley Funeral Home & Crematoriun, 1101 Ryan Road, Courtenay.