Harriet Alexandra (Tommie) Weir
April 22, 1923 – November 26, 2013
Harriet Alexandra (Tommie) Weir (née Thompson,) age 90, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 at Hillcrest Place in Brandon, Manitoba, with her family by her side.
Tommie was born April 22, 1923 on the family farm near Davidson, Saskatchewan the ninth of Harold (Harry) and Olivia Thompson’s fourteen children. Raised in Davidson, she trained as a Registered Nurse at the Regina General Hospital. There she became better known by her nickname Tommie, a derivative of her maiden name. The name stuck; her given name common only among her extended family.
While nursing at the Regina General Hospital, Tommie caught the eye of Walter Weir, a young man from High Bluff and Portage la Prairie who was apprenticing as a funeral director with Speers Funeral Home. Walter informed his parents, Maude (Christina Maude Cox-Smith) and Dick (James Dixon) Weir, who then resided in Winnipeg, that he was bringing his friend Tommie home for Christmas. Much to their shock, Tommie turned out to be a young woman. Maude quickly changed the sleeping arrangements while Dick poured Tommie her first drink!
Tommie and Walter married at the United Church in Davidson on November 3, 1951. They moved to Portage la Prairie where Walter began work at McMaster Funeral Home and Tommie worked as a nurse at the Portage General Hospital, residing in a suite over Hill’s Pharmacy. Their first child, Leslie Enid, was born shortly after and the young family moved to Minnedosa shortly after as the new owners of Weir’s Funeral Home (complete with local ambulance service, flower shop and furniture store, a common combination at the time.) Three sons came along over the next few years; John Dixon, James Patrick and Hugh Cameron.
Walter was elected as a member of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly in 1959 under Progressive Conservative Premier Duff Roblin, requiring him to be away from home a great deal. Tommie kept the family and their business on an even keel. Walter’s appointment as a Cabinet Minister led to a move to Winnipeg in 1963 and eventual sale of the funeral home to Hugh Sanderson, a long-time employee, but developed the cottage as a connection for family and community.
In November, 1967, Walter succeeded Duff Roblin as Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba, hence becoming the Premier of the Province, a post he proudly held when he presided over the official opening of the Red River Floodway in 1968 and when together he and Tommie participated in hosting Manitoba’s Centennial celebrations, including the historic visit of Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 1970.
Tommie weathered the highs, lows and stresses of many election campaigns by Walter’s side. They were partners in public life. Their home was a gathering place for political colleagues and respected opponents, Minnedosa constituents and people from all walks of life who enjoyed their friendship and hospitality.
Retiring from public life in 1971, Walter and Tommie made their new home in Mississauga, Ontario, where Walter became President of Service Corporation International Canada and later joined Memorial Gardens. Their three sons kept life interesting and they enjoyed new friendships with neighbours and more frequent visits with “eastern” relatives. Five years later they decided to return to their roots, moving home to Minnedosa where Walter established a financial planning and insurance business. Tommie became involved in the community, particularly enjoying her leadership role in celebrating Minnedosa’s Centennial in 1983 and the Canada Summer Games in 1997. She tended a large garden for many years that kept her busy pickling and canning things that she loved to share with others. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting and crafts which will remain family treasures.
When Walter passed away unexpectedly in April, 1985, Tommie rose to the challenge of being family matriarch. She continued to be interested and involved in the lives of her children, grandchildren and her extended family. In earlier years Tommie enjoyed walks around the dam and beach road near her home in Minnedosa. She took care of and remembered countless relatives, friends and neighbours throughout the years, always finding ways to show kindness to others, whether it was funny cards, gag gifts her Halloween goodie bags, gifts of Christmas baking, decorated Christmas brooms or home-made antipasto, candy or fudge. In recent years crosswords kept her mind sharp and her vocabulary impressive. She enjoyed following sports, especially favourite players, always pleased to win a few dollars from Cam on their friendly bets.
Tommie was predeceased by her parents Olivia and Harry Thompson, husband Walter, his parents, Maude and Dick Weir, and her brother-in-law Bill Weir; her sisters, Nettie Frances, Gladys, Bertha Paintin and husband Claude, Lillian Bigg and husband Robert, Helen Hrubetz, Olivia Gillespie and husband Harold and brothers Stanley, Leslie, Alex, Robert (Barney) and his wife Margaret and their son Dale, who always had a special place in her heart.
Tommie also cherished the memory of beloved pets that were part of her family over the years, Mike, Tinkerbelle, Tuffy-Lin, Tuk, Brando, Quinn and Kayla and more recently time with Lynx, Patches and Comet.
Mom will be missed by her children, Leslie, her partner Terry Cheater and his family, granddaughter Kara Frain and husband Gord Dowhan, great-granddaughter Victoria Mary Dowhan (born after Mom’s passing), John Weir, J.P. (Pat) Weir, his partner Theressa Treloar and her family, Cam and his wife Alison Weir and their sons Nigel and Tyler as well as her sisters May Gill and her husband Bev (Unionville, ON,) Grace Halstead and her husband Ludwig (Skip) (Thomasville, Georgia,) brother Glenn Thompson and his wife Jesmond (Gimli, MB) and Leslie’s widow Elizabeth (Betty) Thompson in the United States in addition to many nieces, nephews and her vast extended family.
Leslie, John and Cam extend heartfelt appreciation to Pat and Theressa for always being there for Mom.
In accordance with Mom’s wishes, a private family service will be held and her remains will be interred next to Walter at the Minnedosa Cemetery. Flowers are gratefully declined. Should you wish to honour Tommie’s life please show kindness to someone who may be lonely or alone or make a gift in her memory to a cause you care about. Her family is thankful for her long life, well lived. Messages of condolence may be posted at www.brockiedonovan.com. Arrangements are in care of Brockie Donovan Funeral and Cremation Services, Brandon, MB, (204) 727-0694.
