Obituary of Enid Margaret Masson

Enid Margaret Masson was born on March 4, 1933 and grew up in the Rat Lake District west of Ardmore, AB. Her parents were Frank and Dora Lambert and her siblings were brother Ken and sisters Rose and Gladys. Enid received her schooling in Ardmore and Fort Kent and then went to the University of Alberta in Edmonton where she received her teaching diploma. She then taught school at Metiskow, AB for two years. It was during her time in Metiskow that she met a local farm boy who would become the love of her life. Enid and Joe Masson were married on August 4, 1956 in the Rat Lake Church. The following spring they purchased the Sammy Mears farm near the hamlet of Cairns. 1957 was a busy year for Enid and Joe with the move to their new home in the spring followed by the birth of their first son, Edward, in August. A second son, Murray, was born in June of 1960. The Masson farm west of Cadogan was a busy place for Enid. In addition to raising her two sons, cooking for hired help and keeping the house in top shape, Enid helped Joe with a lot of the outside farm work. She regularly helped with all the chores associated with milking cows, raising pigs and building up a herd of purebred Shorthorn cattle. She also kept a big garden and by fall her hard work meant a cold room full of potatoes and canned produce and a freezer full of vegetables. Enid was very strong and resilient person and every spring for many years she looked after all the farm chores while Joe took bulls to the Calgary Bull Sale. Enid also was a substitute teacher at local schools and felt that education was important. She made it clear to her boys that just getting a high school diploma was not an option, that some form of further education was necessary. Enid was a strong supporter of community and could often be found working with other Cadogan Ag Society ladies catering to local weddings and funerals. She also helped edit and produce the local history book "Prairie Echoes". Several times over the years she opened up her house to International Agricultural Exchange Association trainees from Denmark and Australia and made sure they always felt part of the family. One of the Danish trainees, who now lives in Australia kept in touch with Enid and sent her a Christmas letter every year. She will be remembered most for her amazing ability to go from baking buns that could have won first place at the fair in the morning to helping work cattle through the chutes in the afternoon. She was an excellent stock person who could get the most stubborn calf or baby pig to suckle a bottle and many a critter survived sickness because of Enid's tenacity and vet skills. Enid passed away quietly in her sleep in the afternoon of October 17, 2015 after a three year battle with melanoma cancer. During those three years she lived life on her terms, never one to complain she continued to plant a garden, look after Joe and help Murray with numerous farm tasks. She will be missed and loved forever by husband Joe, son Ed and his wife Connie, son Murray, grandson Ben, brother Ken, sister Gladys, and numerous nieces and nephews.