Marian Jeanette (Horton) McIntosh Obituary (1932 - 2024)

Surrounded by family and snug in her favourite chair, Marian Jeanette McIntosh passed away peacefully on December 27, 2024 at Comox Valley Seniors' Village in Courtenay, BC, at the age of 92. Marian was born on July 17, 1932 in Dunvegan, Alberta to Myrtle Minerva Horton and Roy Chester Horton. Her Peace River Country childhood was filled with memories of farm life so rural as to be almost unimaginable to city folk today: milking cows by hand, feeding chickens and collecting their eggs, cutting and carrying firewood ... Marian spent many happy hours riding her horse Dixie: to and from Dunvegan's log schoolhouse, exploring the Dunvegan hills with many cousins and friends, and best of all, crossing the Hines Creek coulee to visit her dear Aunt Lorna. After a year of business college in Peace River, at 17 Marian moved to Grande Prairie, where she applied her new skills in a series of good office jobs over several years, living in a small, sturdy house built by her father and trucked from the farm by her Uncle Rod. In the course of her work duties she met Ken McIntosh, a handsome young farmer who captured her heart. Married on March 6, 1953, Marian and Ken were inseparable for the next 69 years (until Ken passed away in February 2021, a week short of his 98th birthday). They spent their first 20 years together building a fine farm and raising three fine children eight miles west of Grande Prairie. Marian was the glue that held everything together in those busy years: driving grain trucks at harvest time, helping to feed and care for up to 1,000 cattle, making sure those three kids did their homework, and ferrying them to and from their many sporting and extracurricular activities. A family friend once said that Marian sometimes met herself driving the road between farm and town. Farming was followed by a few more busy, full years: building and running various business ventures, first in Grande Prairie and then Salmon Arm; and tirelessly supporting their growing kids and grandkids with their time, care, attention and love. But by 1981 the kids were grown and the call of the road was irresistible. For the next 21 years Marian and her beloved Ken travelled to most corners of North America as full-time RVers: "Home is where we park" was their motto; and "boondocking" was their happy place--off the grid and far from the nearest town. Caring for Marian's aging parents and ailing brother Merle kept the wanderers in and near the Peace River Country through most of the early 2000's. In 2014 Marian & Ken packed up and moved to Courtenay. They loved their Island years: seven in a lovely ground-level apartment on Courtenay's England Avenue; seven more in the Assisted Living wing of Comox Valley Seniors' Village--where Marian was much loved by residents, staff, and a circle of great friends. Blessed with good health and a kind heart, she was always ready to share her walks, helping hands, and warm smiles. Well after her 90th birthday Marian became a proud member of the Pool Posse - a group of good friends who met most nights at 8 o'clock sharp to play pool, often enjoying a nightcap together before retiring. Marian is survived by three children (Bill, Darrell and Brenda), six grandchildren (Logan, Jennifer, Michael, Chloe, Dylan and Taylor), and five great-grandchildren (Decker, Marley, Xaiden, Iris and Harlem). Like all who were fortunate to know her as Marian, we'll miss our Mom/Grandma/Gigi terribly. But we take comfort in knowing that she was able to leave us as she lived: with dignity and grace; and with joy in her heart, prepared to embrace what comes next.