Elizabeth Carrol Mae Bruce (nee Gray), 81 of Carman, died peacefully on Tuesday March 8, 2022, at Carman Memorial Hospital.
Carrol was born August 24, 1940, in Birtle, MB to Knox and Ruby Gray, the younger of two children. She married Andrew Bruce on July 14, 1962, in Carman, MB.
In October 1963 while living in Carman, Carrol and Andy welcomed their first child Heather. In May, 1967, their son David was born in Gladstone.
After leaving school, Carrol received her Teaching Certificate from Teacher’s College and began her lifelong career of teaching. Carrol stayed a few years in Culross, MB, and after marrying Andy, they spent 10 years in Gladstone where Mom took a teaching position at Golden Stream (a small country school). In 1973, Carrol and Andy moved their family back to Carman. Carrol took a teaching position in Graysville and would drive back and forth for a few years until she and Andy moved to Graysville. Carrol continued teaching in Graysville until her retirement in 1995.
In 1995, Carrol and Andy purchased their new house trailer, returning to Carman. They loved to spend time on their back deck – visiting with friends, picking apples, watching wildlife and feeding the birds. Carrol was known to scare the occasional stray cat out of the yard with her “repeater” pellet gun.
The kitchen was Carrol’s place, where she would spend countless hours cooking and baking for her family and friends. Arin spent time baking with Grandma in the kitchen, laughing and giggling while Grandpa sat at the kitchen table as their taste tester. There was always a sweet treat in the kitchen when visiting. In the fall during harvest, Carrol could be found at River Trail Farms delivering baking for the crew working at the shed.
Carrol also made dad’s lunches faithfully every day as he travelled from Graysville to Carman for work. One day, David travelled home with his dad and watched him throw his lunch out the window. David couldn’t wait to get home to tell his mom what his dad had done.
Carrol was active in track and field in her late years of school. In 1958, she won every event for her age category including high jump, hop-skip and jump, and the sprint events. Carrol was very proud of Mackenzie’s accomplishments in athletics - often standing at the finish line or sitting in the bleachers to cheer her on. Carrol also curled competitively and spent numerous hours at the Graysville curling rink, curling in league and bonspiels. She was also seen coming and going from the furnace room.
In the summer, if you couldn’t find them at home, Carrol and Andy could be found at the Carman Golf Course either golfing in league play or playing with friends and family. Even after she stopped playing golf herself, Carrol loved riding around in the cart as a marshal at some of Dayne’s junior golf tournaments, or just riding along with him to keep his score honest if he was out playing a round by himself.
Carrol always supported Andy’s baseball career, either in the Carman Slow Pitch league, local tournaments, or travel tournaments they went to like Gladstone, MB. Andy’s playing career came to an abrupt end during the Gladstone tournament where he broke his ankle falling out of a truck. The true story was that Mom was driving too fast and Dad fell out of the back of the truck and broke his ankle.
As many know, Carrol was a talented pianist and also played the organ from time to time. Carrol played for herself but loved to play for family and friends. She played many years for the Graysville School Christmas Concert, and more recently, she would entertain her neighbors at Meadowwood, often not even knowing it as they would often stand outside her door just to listen to the beautiful music. We, as family, will certainly miss her music gift.
While Heather and David were growing up, they were the priority in Carrol’s life. She saw the inside of many rinks while watching Heather figure skate and curl at the Provincial level. Carrol also travelled to more rinks to watch David’s hockey games and tournaments in the winter, including a bus trip to Saskatchewan, and many baseball games in the summer.
Carrol would chauffer her grandchildren to various activities like swimming, golfing, curling and to Syl’s for ice cream afterwards. As the kids got older, they started to chauffer grandma around to their activities, but still ended up at Syl’s. Carrol was lucky enough to watch all her grandchildren graduate from high school which was very important to her. Once a teacher, always a teacher: education was important to her.
Carrol is survived by her two children Heather (Bob) Hiebert and David (Lisa) Bruce; grandchildren Lynley (Riley), Arin (Ryan), Meghan, Mackenzie and Dayne; and great grandchildren Isla and Harvey.
Carrol was pre-deceased by her loving husband Andy in November 2016.
A graveside service will be held on Thursday, July 14th, 2022 at Greenwood Cemetery, Carman. Donations in Carrol’s memory can be made to Boundary Trails Hospital and Canadian Cancer Society
Carrol was born August 24, 1940, in Birtle, MB to Knox and Ruby Gray, the younger of two children. She married Andrew Bruce on July 14, 1962, in Carman, MB.
In October 1963 while living in Carman, Carrol and Andy welcomed their first child Heather. In May, 1967, their son David was born in Gladstone.
After leaving school, Carrol received her Teaching Certificate from Teacher’s College and began her lifelong career of teaching. Carrol stayed a few years in Culross, MB, and after marrying Andy, they spent 10 years in Gladstone where Mom took a teaching position at Golden Stream (a small country school). In 1973, Carrol and Andy moved their family back to Carman. Carrol took a teaching position in Graysville and would drive back and forth for a few years until she and Andy moved to Graysville. Carrol continued teaching in Graysville until her retirement in 1995.
In 1995, Carrol and Andy purchased their new house trailer, returning to Carman. They loved to spend time on their back deck – visiting with friends, picking apples, watching wildlife and feeding the birds. Carrol was known to scare the occasional stray cat out of the yard with her “repeater” pellet gun.
The kitchen was Carrol’s place, where she would spend countless hours cooking and baking for her family and friends. Arin spent time baking with Grandma in the kitchen, laughing and giggling while Grandpa sat at the kitchen table as their taste tester. There was always a sweet treat in the kitchen when visiting. In the fall during harvest, Carrol could be found at River Trail Farms delivering baking for the crew working at the shed.
Carrol also made dad’s lunches faithfully every day as he travelled from Graysville to Carman for work. One day, David travelled home with his dad and watched him throw his lunch out the window. David couldn’t wait to get home to tell his mom what his dad had done.
Carrol was active in track and field in her late years of school. In 1958, she won every event for her age category including high jump, hop-skip and jump, and the sprint events. Carrol was very proud of Mackenzie’s accomplishments in athletics - often standing at the finish line or sitting in the bleachers to cheer her on. Carrol also curled competitively and spent numerous hours at the Graysville curling rink, curling in league and bonspiels. She was also seen coming and going from the furnace room.
In the summer, if you couldn’t find them at home, Carrol and Andy could be found at the Carman Golf Course either golfing in league play or playing with friends and family. Even after she stopped playing golf herself, Carrol loved riding around in the cart as a marshal at some of Dayne’s junior golf tournaments, or just riding along with him to keep his score honest if he was out playing a round by himself.
Carrol always supported Andy’s baseball career, either in the Carman Slow Pitch league, local tournaments, or travel tournaments they went to like Gladstone, MB. Andy’s playing career came to an abrupt end during the Gladstone tournament where he broke his ankle falling out of a truck. The true story was that Mom was driving too fast and Dad fell out of the back of the truck and broke his ankle.
As many know, Carrol was a talented pianist and also played the organ from time to time. Carrol played for herself but loved to play for family and friends. She played many years for the Graysville School Christmas Concert, and more recently, she would entertain her neighbors at Meadowwood, often not even knowing it as they would often stand outside her door just to listen to the beautiful music. We, as family, will certainly miss her music gift.
While Heather and David were growing up, they were the priority in Carrol’s life. She saw the inside of many rinks while watching Heather figure skate and curl at the Provincial level. Carrol also travelled to more rinks to watch David’s hockey games and tournaments in the winter, including a bus trip to Saskatchewan, and many baseball games in the summer.
Carrol would chauffer her grandchildren to various activities like swimming, golfing, curling and to Syl’s for ice cream afterwards. As the kids got older, they started to chauffer grandma around to their activities, but still ended up at Syl’s. Carrol was lucky enough to watch all her grandchildren graduate from high school which was very important to her. Once a teacher, always a teacher: education was important to her.
Carrol is survived by her two children Heather (Bob) Hiebert and David (Lisa) Bruce; grandchildren Lynley (Riley), Arin (Ryan), Meghan, Mackenzie and Dayne; and great grandchildren Isla and Harvey.
Carrol was pre-deceased by her loving husband Andy in November 2016.
A graveside service will be held on Thursday, July 14th, 2022 at Greenwood Cemetery, Carman. Donations in Carrol’s memory can be made to Boundary Trails Hospital and Canadian Cancer Society