Obituary of Mary Warke

Mary Esther Warke of Camrose passed away on Monday, October 19, 2015 at the age of 95 years. Mary Esther Bean Ringwall Warke was born to Harry J. Bean and Rev. Olive E. Bean at Lousana, Alberta. In 1944, Mary was united in marriage to Arthur F. Ringwall of the Red Deer Lake area. To this union was born one daughter Ardith Mary who predeceased Mary in 1999. Arthur had passed away in 1960. Mary always was a music lover. Before her parents purchased an instrument, Mary would sit by a table and pretend she was playing a piano. Her love of music followed her throughout her life. While living in the Ferintosh area, she was the Program Convener for the Home and School Association, she conducted an orchestra in which she played the piano. She also was the pianist for the local Church of the Nazarene and conducted many musical programs for church and community. In 1961 Mary and her daughter Ardith moved to Camrose where Mary became a Financial Planner for AGF Mutual Fund for seven years. In 1971 Mary was united in marriage to John Warke of Sherwood Park, Alberta. John was Foreman of CNR Bridge Gang. They lived on their acreage for 30 years. Mary was a member of 1st Church of the Nazarene in Edmonton where she participated in musical programs etc. Her last musical contribution was for her church in their outreach ministries at McConnel Place. After the death of her daughter, she no longer felt a desire to play until she bought her Keyboard in 2004. John died in January 2002. Mary had a long and fulfilling life as a writer. She has written many slim line booklets of poetry, prose and photography, which have been used widely. Her first poem was written as an assignment in Grade 5 and has been never-ending adventure since that time. She distributed booklets of approximately eight poems therein, for patients in St. Mary's Hospital and also to the sorrowing and ill persons in the communities of Camrose, Sherwood Park, Edmonton etc. Mary sold her Duplex and moved to Deer Meadows in Camrose, Alberta in July of 2009 where she again used her musical and writing talents. Mary's outstanding characteristic was that no one had to wonder where she stood on subjects near and dear to her heart. She proclaimed her views loud and clear. Mary leaves to mourn her passing her nieces Rosemary Rittenhouse (Dennis) of Camrose; Rilla Murray (Scot) of Ferintosh, Grace Hellis of Stony Plain, Marion (Stig) Petersson of Wetaskiwin, Margaret Lindholm of Camrose; nephews Joel Campbell (Sherry) of Vulcan, Ab, Brian Campbell (Star), Gavin Campbell of Edmonton; son-in-law Douglas Storey of Edmonton; sister-in-law Sylvia Warke Tordoff (Verne) of Hay River, NWT: brothers-in-law Alfred and Robert Warke of Castor, Ab; cousin Lona Guyer and family in U.S.A. and many other relatives and friends. Mary was predeceased by her first husband Art Ringwall, second husband John Warke, her daughter Ardith, and one sister Roanna. A Funeral Service was held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, October 26, 2015 from the Burgar Memorial Chapel with Rev. Dr. Larry Dahl officiating. Inurnment followed in the Central Valley Cemetery, Ferintosh. If family and friends so desire, memorial contributions are gratefully accepted to the Olive Bean Memorial Scholarship for Women in Ministry care of the Ambrose University in Calgary.