Obituary of Maureen Maureen Mary (Mo) WILLS (nee Scholefield)

August 17, 1935 – Bishopthorpe, York, England
October 16, 2019 – Cochrane, Alberta

Maureen Mary (Mo) Wills passed away in her beloved home of Cochrane, AB, on Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at the age of 84 years.

Maureen was born in Bishopthorpe, York, England, to Arthur and Kathleen Scholefield on August 17, 1935. Maureen worked on a farm for several years and had taken training in Animal Husbandry before becoming a Radar Operator in the Woman’s Royal Air Force in England.  Restless for new adventure she immigrated to Alberta, Canada in 1960.

Maureen taught at the Old Sun School in Gleichen on the Siksika Indian Reserve.  She was ceremonially adopted by Rosaria Red Gun into the family and given the name Od-ska-be-nake (Blue eyed woman). She embraced the native spiritual way of life and even lived in a teepee at the Calgary Stampede one year.   

Maureen laid eyes upon Cochrane for the first time at the top of Cochrane Hill on the 1A highway and vowed this to be where she would call “home”.  She moved to the Ghost River Ranch west of Cochrane and worked for Agnes Hammond as a kennel and stable maid and dog trainer.  Maureen imported her beloved Bishop, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi from England.  They won numerous national and international shows. Maureen, a member of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Assoc. of Canada started a breeding program under the registered name Hollowood Kennels with the goal of improving the breed in Canada.  She also worked for the Red Cross Blood Transfusion Services in Calgary for about ten years. Maureen was hooked on hiking and tenting in Kananaskis Country with her dog Bishop, and in later years enjoyed numerous trips with close friends in her motorhome. She also enjoyed a good game of Bridge and loved a neat Scotch.

Maureen married the only man to capture her fancy, Frank, on October 26, 1968.  In July 1971 they were blessed with a daughter, Kathleen (Kathy). Together they ran their sawmill, Maureen Forest Products up the Forestry Trunk Road till they built their home on Jamieson Road in 1973. She drove school bus for eighteen years west of Cochrane and competed in School Bus “Roadeos” on a Provincial level. She was also active in the Scouting and Guiding movement since the age of 5 and was affectionately known as Grey Wolf amongst Scouters. Maureen diligently raised funds in order to build a Scouting and Guiding Hall in memory of her husband who passed in 1979. The building of the Frank Wills Memorial Hall is one of her greatest accomplishments and a legacy left to be enjoyed by the town of Cochrane.

Volunteering was Maureen’s passion and calling in life.  She was also was a member of the Jamieson Road Fire Department, Beaupre Community Assoc., and Ghost River Pony Club. She was a founding member of the Handi-bus organization in Cochrane called Big Hill Activities Society, Frank Wills Memorial Society, Fellow of the Calgary Scout Foundation, Cochrane & Area Victim Services, Citizens On Patrol and Rural Crime Watch, Affordable Housing Group, Seniors Task Force and the “Grey Matters” pilot project.  Other volunteer passions for Maureen included the Cochrane Sustainability Committee, Warm Water Therapy Society, Seniors for Kids, BP Guild, William Watson Lodge Society, Cochrane Humane Society, Cochrane Family & Community Support Services, Membership to the Royal Canadian Legion, Seniors on the Bow, Judging Westbrook and Bearspaw Fairs,  4H public speaking judge, Calgary Kerby Centre.  Maureen also served two terms as a councilor on Cochrane Town Council.
   
Maureen has been awarded numerous accolades in her volunteer history but a few that were dear to her heart were the Commonwealth Golden Jubilee award, Cochrane Community Builder award, Provincial Seniors Service Award, Medal of Merit, The Star of Alberta Award, and The Order of Cochrane. 

Maureen is survived by her loving daughter Kathleen (Jonathan) Mills, daughter-in-law Roberta Babott, grandson Robert Wills, great-grandchildren, Jace Wills and Elexa Wills;   sister-in-law Valerie Scholefield, nephew Robert Scholefield, niece Deborah Scholefield. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews on the Wills side.  She is predeceased by her husband Frank, her brother Patrick Scholefield, her grandson Jim Wills, and her stepson Glenn Wills.

The celebration of Maureen’s life will be announced at a later date; however to honor all that were touched by Maureen the family is offering an interim informal Afternoon of Remembrance to be held at the Frank Wills Memorial Hall (405 1 St E, Cochrane, AB), on Thursday, November 21, 2019 between 2:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., on a drop in basis to share stories and give condolences to the family. Additionally you may email the family your condolences, memories and pictures of Maureen to maureensmemorial@hotmail.com. Condolences may be forwarded through www.McInnisandHolloway.com.
 
If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Frank Wills Memorial Society, or the Cochrane Humane Society, 62 Griffin Industrial Pointe, Cochrane, AB, T4C 0A3, Telephone: (403) 932-2072, www.cochranehumane.ca. 

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the staff of the Big Hill Lodge, the We Care staff and all the people, organizations and volunteers that touched and enriched Maureen’s incredible life. She would always be the first to remind people to pay it forward and not take life too seriously… “smile”.  

A tree will be planted in living memory of Maureen Wills. McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Cochrane, 369 RAILWAY STREET, COCHRANE, AB, T4C 2E2,   Telephone: 403-932-4740.