Maurice WESTERN

Maurice Alban Walter Western passed away quietly on September 7, 2002, in Capilano Care Centre, West Vancouver, BC. Born in Pelly, Saskatchewan on December 14, 1912, Maurice was raised on the Prairies and met and married his wife Doris Evelyn (Dot) Douglas in Moose Jaw. He took his Bachelor of Arts in History at the University of Saskatchewan and his Master's at the University of Toronto. Maurice joined the Regina Rifles during World War II, but was discharged after 2 years to work as a war correspondent overseas for the Regina Leader Post. Following the war he moved to Winnipeg to write for the Winnipeg Free Press and stayed with that newspaper until his retirement in 1979. He had a very fulfilling and challenging career in the Parliamentary Press Gallery in Ottawa from 1959 to 1979 and was also an occasional contributor to the Manchester Guardian and the Canadian Churchman newspapers. "Our quiet absent-minded professor" is lovingly remembered by his four children, Wendy Bowness of Tweed, Ontario, Peter Western (Heather) of Ottawa, Barbara Smith (Fred) of North Vancouver, Joan Western (Steve Branston) of Kelowna, BC; 13 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; his sister Phyllis Simpson of West Vancouver; his beloved cousins in Victoria, Gay Brownlee and Kay Brown; and his sister-in-law Shirley Ross (Harvey) of Regina. Maurice was predeceased by his wife Dot in 1982. A memorial service will be held on Friday, September 13th at 1 p.m. at St. Stephen's Anglican Church off Mt. Newton X Road in Saanichton. The family warmly appreciates donations in lieu of flowers to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC. SANDS OF VICTORIA The Ottawa Citizen, 12-09-2002