Mavis Smith, a former member of the Maple Ridge Chorus, passed away peacefully on July 22, 2018 after a short illness.
Devoted wife, mother, educator, gardener, chorister and nature lover, Mavis enjoyed the simple things in life and always thought the best of others.
She was born in Warsash, England in 1926, the second daughter of William and Annie (Wills) Johns. She attended teacher training college and worked as a teacher for several years in England before her marriage in 1950. With a husband and young family she emigrated to Canada in 1957, settling in Maple Ridge, where she lived for 61 years.
She taught Kindergarten at Golden Ears and Maple Ridge Elementary schools and was a longtime member of the Maple Ridge Garden Club and the Maple Ridge Choral Society. She loved walks in nature, and explored and traveled as much as her other commitments allowed. Her greatest delights were her family and tending her garden.
She was predeceased by her husband George Smith and by her sister Mary Hay. She is survived by her sister Clare (Denis) Mason, her daughters Cathy (Phil) Smith, Rosemary (Brian) Korpan, and Sarah (Darrell) Fleming, by her sons James Smith and Malcolm (Joy Matthews) Smith, and by her 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
The family extended their thanks to the staff of 3N at Ridge Meadows Hospital for their compassionate care in their mother’s final days. Donations in memory of Mavis may be made to the Ridge Meadows Hospital foundation. http://www.rmhfoundation.com