Dawn Marie Bailey (Benoit) nee Purkis was born on September 18, 1928 in Greenwood, B.C. to Esther Ruth Purkis (Collins) and Alec Purkis. A lovely woman with an angelic voice, she died on Sunday, December 6, 2015, following a stay in hospital.
Through the Depression and WWII her family moved many times to where there was work and extended family. When they settled in Lethbridge, Dawn met and married Lorne Benoit. With their two daughters, Renee and Jeanette, the family moved to Victoria, B.C. and began a long association with Metropolitan United Church. Here, Dawn began her singing life as a chorister and as a soloist.
Dawn worked for the B.C. Government branch that managed the Provincial Parks System. Later Dawn married Arnold Bailey, whom she met at Metropolitan and into a loving extended family. She was “Gran” to his grand-children. Predeceased by her parents and by Lorne and Arnold, she is survived by daughters, Jeanette Aubrey, Renee Roy; step-daughters, Christine Lee (David), Jean Archer (John) and Effie-Jane Ashcroft (Charles). Her grandchildren are Scott Roy (Whitney), Paul Archer and son, Ben, Alan Ashcroft (Tsia Shen), Anne Hutchings (Jason), John Lee, Patrick Lee (Anne and son, James), Bonnie Robert (daughter, Eve and son, Mathieu); also by many close friends, especially, Ursula Thomas.
When you eat your Melton Mowbray pork pies, mince tarts or rich Christmas Pudding with hard rum sauce, remember Dawn. Extraordinary soprano, skilled cook and baker, seamstress, gardener, hostess, she set the bar high for all of us.
Thank you to Dr. Merali, all the staff of the 6th and 8th South Floors of Royal Jubilee Hospital, Arthur Marcellus, Dr. Fei Yang and Dawn’s neighbours who kept an eye out for her.
A Memorial Service to celebrate Dawn’s life will be held at St. Luke’s Anglican Church, corner of Cedar Hill Road and Cedar Hill Cross Road on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. Reception to follow. Flowers gratefully declined. Please consider donations in Dawn’s memory to St. Luke’s Church, The Heart and Stroke Foundation or charity of your choice. Please send cards and private condolences to 151 Homer Road, Victoria, BC V8Z 1V7. Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall’s Funeral Home
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Marion and John De Gray
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Ross and Nancy McLaughlin Mrs. Bailey (as we knew her) was a fascinating, outspoken, indomitable, charming woman — and skilled baker. We had the pleasure of meeting her a number of times at the home of Nancy’s sister and brother-in-law, Jean and Arthur Marcellus, where we also enjoyed the goodies that came from her kitchen. We are sorry to hear of her passing, and extend our condolences to her entire family.
Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. We heard my brother Arthur speak so fondly of this dear friend in Mrs. Bailey. Arthur looked forward to his Fri. Afternoons after work for that cup of tea and ‘goodies’ that they shared before he commenced the yard work . Many garden gifts also came to the Marcellus house on Leaside.
May the love of God surround you and embrace you with peace during your time of loss.