Margaret MCKIE

With broken hearts, the family of Margaret Elizabeth McKie (née Desjardins) shares the passing of our much-loved wife, mom, grandma, sister, and aunt. Comforted by her husband, Fraser, and surrounded by her daughters, grandchildren, and faithful dog, Betty, Marg/Maggie/Mags gently transitioned from this life on April 15th, 2026.

Margaret (mom) was predeceased by her parents, Jean Leon (John) and Helen Desjardins; brothers, Billy, Abby, and Bobby; in-laws Jack, Jean, Carol, Lorraine, Gerd, and Ralph; and many cherished puppies.  She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Fraser, her daughters Christine, Karla (Denis), and Sharlene (Dan); her grandchildren Drayson (Alanah), Jordi (Dylan), Erik, Taylor (Taylor), Sage, Addison, Carter, and Charlie; and her dog Betty.  Also left to mourn her passing are sisters Jeanne and Lorraine; brothers John (Gail) and Eugene (Bridgette); brother-in-law Malcolm; many cousins, nieces, and nephews; and a lifetime of friends.

Born on November 15, 1949, in Michel, BC, mom was the sixth of seven children born to John and Helen Desjardins. She cherished her upbringing in Michel, where she created lifelong memories with friends and the Desjardins and Cole family.  Many family trips to Manitoba were taken to visit her extensive Desjardins family in Laurier and St. Amélie. 

Fraser, the prairie boy from Kinsella, Alberta, arrived in Michel for work in 1967, and it didn’t take long for him to notice Margaret Desjardins. They were married two years later in Calgary, Alberta, on July 3, 1969.  They welcomed their oldest daughter, Christine, that same year, in 1971 daughter Karla came along, and five years after that baby sister Sharlene completed their family.

Mom worked in a few different careers but most of her working life was spent in Sparwood Secondary and Mountain View Elementary first as an education assistant and then as a caretaker.  Mom impacted many students' lives over the years and we were so touched to hear from several people about the kindness and care mom showed to them or their children.  She had a gift for noticing those kids that were having a tough time and went out of her way to make them feel safe and welcome in her presence.

We were very proud when Mom chose to run for a council position with the District of  Sparwood, where she went on to serve the residents for four terms. One of her greatest honours was chairing the Balmer North 50th Anniversary Miners Memorial Committee. She stood with pride on April 3, 2017, as the committee unveiled the commissioned bronze miner and memorial, dedicated to honouring those who lost their lives in coal mining in the Elk Valley.

Mom loved to socialize and visit. Coffee with a friend or a group of friends was part of her daily routine. Well-worn paths could be seen leading from our driveway across the street and throughout town, connecting to the homes of many dear friends. She adored her A&W coffee crew, and in her later years she especially cherished visits from family and friends.

In the early years Loon Lake was her favourite place for all our childhood family adventures.  When grandkids came along Glen Lake became the family’s much-loved summer gathering place, where countless memories were made over the years. Days were spent cruising on the pontoon boat, enjoying campfires, and sharing time with her grandchildren. Mornings always began with a fresh percolated cup of coffee on the deck, while afternoons sometimes included “spa treatments” lovingly given by her grandchildren and great nieces. The lake also became a place of togetherness, where we hosted countless family dinners, always with her famous spaghetti at the centre of the table. ‘Aunt Lil’s’ was her favourite place in Eureka until she took up ‘bowling’ at the Big Sky Lanes and Casino.  She loved her trips to Vegas and Reno, Nevada and would rarely pass up the opportunity to head to Cranbrook to spend a little cash at St. Eugene’s.

Mom was fortunate to have travelled with her family to several destinations around the world, including Scotland, Amsterdam, France, Belgium, Holland, Japan, Hawaii, and various locations in Mexico.  She loved going to the movies, meeting for lunch/dinner, attending concerts, and going on golf vacations with dad.  And we’ll never forget the many Black Friday shopping trips to Kalispell when mom would load up on gifts and usually replace her current wardrobe with her fabulous deals from Herbergers.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the care aides, nurses, doctors, and a special thanks to Dr. Rader for your care and compassion for mom. 

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Parkinson’s Society of BC, Heart and Stroke Foundation, or Rocky Mountain Village Auxiliary Society.

Mom, your wings were ready to fly but our hearts weren’t ready to let you go.  Your love will forever be the bond that keeps our family connected.

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