It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear Mom, Phyllis Emery Skeats, in her 93rd year. Phyllis passed peacefully on March 18, 2021 attended by her family and the compassionate caregivers of Grace Village.
Phyllis is predeceased by her first husband, Lindsay Pocock, and she leaves to mourn her second husband, Terry Skeats, with whom she shared 40 years of marriage. Cherished mother of Sharon (Bernard), Russell (Thérèse) and Joanne (William); beloved grandmother and step-grandmother of Sandra (Roland), Robyn (Kevin), Matthew, Anna, Lara (Raouf), D’Arcy (Caroline), Nathaniel (Joanie), Emily (Adam), James (Megan), Aimée, Paul and Camille (Loic); great-grandmother of Hayley, Lauren, Meaghan, Mya, Amelia, Zachary, Noah and Celia.
Phyllis was born in 1928 to Willis and Geneva Emery of East Hatley, Quebec and was one of four children. She spent many years in Waterville as a busy mother and active volunteer at church and the elementary school. In 1967 she began employment at Bishop’s University where she spent many years as a Reference Librarian. She enjoyed her continued years of education and graduated from Bishop’s University in 1980. Among her accomplishments were genealogical research; the writing of several books on local history; and involvement in numerous volunteer organizations, including the Lake Massawippi Area Historical Society, Heritage Huntingville, and the Old North Church Cemetery Association.
In 2010, the Quebec Anglophone Heritage Network (QAHN) awarded Phyllis the Marion Phelps Award for her dedication as librarian, archivist, scholar and genealogist to Anglophone heritage.
Mom loved to sing and dance and was active in a Waterville theatre group. She loved to garden and enjoyed the creative design of four homes she built. Along with their historical research, she and her husband Terry were the proud owners of Sunset View, a bed and breakfast they established together in North Hatley. To honour Phyllis a donation to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada https://alzheimer.ca/en/take-action/donate or the Old North Church Cemetery Association oldnorthcem@gmail.com would be appreciated in lieu of flowers.
Due to the circumstances surrounding COVID, a celebration of life will be announced at a later date.