Obituary of Leola Eyben

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Leola "Lee" Eyben, resident of Farmington, British Columbia, on Thursday, August 4, 2022, at the age of 88 years.  A Celebration Of Life for Leola will be held on Saturday, August 20, 2022 at 12:00 noon with a BBQ to follow at Dale's place, 5822 Highway 97 North, Peace River Regional District.For friends so wishing, donations my be made in memory of Leola to SPCA South Peace Branch, 11418 3rd Street, Dawson Creek, BC V1G 4L5, Canada

Leola Catherine Eyben

Leola (Lee) was born May 27, 1934, in Flin Flon, Manitoba, to Ted and Anna Day.

Shortly after her brother George was born in 1937 and sister Melba, joined in 1941.

Once the family was complete, they moved to the South Wapiti area to help Anna's parents with the farm. Lee grew up riding horses and loved being around them.

She met and married the love of her life, Norman Eyben, in 1955.  They lived for a time down at the coast, where the first 3 children were born in New Westminster, BC., Kim in 1956, Dale in 1957, and Kelly in 1959.  They moved north to the peace country in 1960 and stayed a short time in Taylor, BC.

Then they bought land at Mile 10 on the Alaska Highway where they stayed for the next 38 years.

Melody came along in 1961 and Clinton completed the family in 1963.

Mom was an active member of the Farmington community with Dad for many years, where they enjoyed country dances and other community picnics and such. I (Melody) always wished I could dance like them. They could jive like nobody's business and had a ball doing it.

She worked on the farm and loved to mow the grass around the yard. The yard got bigger every year as she mowed the little saplings and gained another foot or so each year. I think dad was wondering if he was going to have to buy more land just so she could keep mowing...

When the kids were finally old enough Mom decided to go back to work. She worked at The Bay for a number of years, quite often going across the street to the Kresge lunch counter and ordering her special sandwich that they eventually put it on the menu as the Lee sandwich, bacon, tomato, cheese, lettuce, green onion and mayo. It had to have green onion.  When The Bay closed, she worked at Zellers for a while. 

Once they both retired and had time on their hands they started talking about what lay ahead. They did extensive traveling and camping as often as they could. Mom loved to camp and sit around a fire.

After many discussions, with each other, Mom's brother George and friend Jack Arlint, they eventually decided to build the Farmington Fairways Golf course.

They ran the golf course from 1993 to 1998 and finally sold out to retire to Osoyoos.

Mom loved her more laid-back lifestyle and the warm sunny days in her brand-new house.

After a few years they decided to move to Salmon Arm, where she got another brand-new house. She loved it there and couldn't have been happier. They eventually found a little slice of heaven in Enderby, BC that she loved, where the neighbours meant the world to her.  When they decided to move back home to Dawson Creek, she missed her friends most of all. Mom continued to talk about going camping again. She loved her flowers, and we always got her flowers for any occasion.

Mom got pneumonia last fall and even though she came home from the hospital she never fully got her strength back. She could still sit for hours and play Aggravation, one game after another. It didn't matter if she lost every game, but she sure smiled when she won.

To keep busy she would crochet her lap blankets while watching TV. She made sure all the children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and even some friends would stay warm.

When mom went back into the hospital in June, we all thought she would eventually make it back home, but the pneumonia hit again, and she just wasn't strong enough this time. She passed away early in the morning on August 4^th, 2022, with Norman by her side.

Leola was predeceased by her parents, George Headley (Ted) and Anna Katherine Day, her brother George; Norman's parents Herman and Jenny Eyben; sisters in-law Annette Day, Vi Eyben, Irene Kennedy and June Eyben; brothers in-law David Schenk, Albert Eyben, Allan Kennedy, and Ron Eyben.

She will be lovingly remembered and oh so missed by her loving husband of 66+ years Norman; her children, Kim, Dale and Diana, Kelly and Leona, Melody and Rick, Clinton and Janice; all her grandchildren Angel, Mitchell, Amy, Steven, Amanda, Candice, Candace, Marcie, Spencer and Robert; many great grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, extended family and friends.

Very Respectfully, Reynars Funeral Home & Crematorium