Florence “Ellen” Craig, resident of Grande Prairie, AB, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 26, 2021, at the Grande Prairie Care Center at the age of 88 years.

Ellen was born in Grande Prairie, on March 12, 1933, the third of four girls to Roland and Nettie Wood. She grew up on her parents’ farm overlooking Lake Saskatoon, AB. She attended school until grade nine at the Hermit Lake one-room schoolhouse. Ellen attended high school at the Grande Prairie High School and resided at the school’s dormitory. She then studied stenography at the St. Joseph’s Business School in Grande Prairie and worked as a stenographer at the Royal Bank following the completion of her courses.

In August 1954, Ellen married Vernon “Fuzz” LaValley of Bezanson, AB, and Lorna was born in August 1955. The family lived at Bezanson until 1960, when they moved their house to Ellen’s childhood farm at Lake Saskatoon. Joseph “Joe” was born in 1968. Fuzz passed away in May 1975. In August 1976, Ellen married Gavin Craig, a family friend and life-long resident of the community. Ellen lived at Lake Saskatoon until September 2020, when she fell, fracturing her hip. Following a short stay at QEII Hospital in Grande Prairie, she was moved to Beaverlodge Hospital and remained there until May 2021, when she transferred to Grande Prairie Care Center.

Ellen was an avid gardener and maintained a huge garden (often seeding 300-500 hills of potatoes!) and several flower beds around the house. She kept a journal all of her life and especially took note of the weather and when the various birds returned in the spring. She and Gavin participated in the provincial bird count and provincial plant watch programs. One of Ellen’s most favorite activities was going for drives with Gavin around the area to see what was new and to hunt for big game and grouse. She had a wicked-good sense of humour and an infectious laugh. She was a great baker (pies at Christmas were eagerly anticipated by all) and visitors were always treated to tea and homemade cookies when they dropped by. Never afraid to get her hands dirty, one could see her fixing fences, building a chicken coop or maintaining other items on the farm.

Ellen is survived by her husband Gavin Craig; daughter Lorna Dahl; son Joe (Lorraine) LaValley; grandchildren: Erin (Trevor) Branden, Craig (Nicole) Dahl, Lucy (Trevor) Isley, Jayelle (Curtis) Peters, Kristen (Darby) Sherard and Nicole LaValley (Aaron Towle); 14 great-grandchildren; as well as one great great-grandchild.

She was predeceased by her parents Nettie and Roland Wood; her first husband Vernon LaValley; son in-law Robert Dahl; as well as her sisters and their spouses Anne (Ted) Cameron, Mary (Tom) Stringer and Alice (LaVerne) Scorgie.

A Memorial Service will be held at a later date.

Memorial Donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and NWT (102, 9823 116 Ave, Grande Prairie, AB, T8V 4B4).