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Marie was born on the spring day of March 13, 1930, in the living postcard that is Banff, to her parents, Blanche Aileen and William Irvine Watson. Along with her childhood best friend and cousin, Aileen, she would hike and bike the trails around Banff. In the winter, the two girls would often be found hiking up and skiing down Mt. Norquay. She worked in the Banff Grocery as a teenager and graduated from Banff High School.
It was in Banff that she met and fell in love with her husband, Henry (Hank) Joseph Chamney. They were married on October 4, 1947 and enjoyed sixty-five wonderful years together, before Hank's passing in 2012.
They lived in Banff for the first few years of their marriage, then ventured to Rocky Mountain House, Clearwater, and Nordegg, where Hank was a Forest Ranger. In 1961, they moved to Bowden, where Marie and her mother-in-law, Edie opened the Bow-Inn Restaurant on Highway 2, across from the Refinery.
In 1967, she attended Olds Agriculture and Vocational College (OAVC), where she graduated from the business program with honours, and was named Valedictorian. She then went to work in Bowden, as the Administrator. During the time she was working, she also continued her education and became the first woman in Alberta to receive a Degree in Local Government Administration. She was offered the position of Municipal Administrator in Edmonton but she turned it down, preferring the small town atmosphere of Bowden. She continued working as Bowden's Town Administrator for twenty years, until she retired in 1987.
Marie was a Lifetime Member of the Royal Canadian Legion Auxiliary and Past Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star Wimodausis #70 Bowden.
Marie and Hank loved to travel and camp and venturing in their RV. They especially loved visiting Irv, Lynn, Jill and Christina on Vancouver Island, and Joyce, Brad, Cassie and Amanda across the USA. They also went camping every chance they got with friends, Edith and Glen Cameron and Marie's Sister and Brother-in-law, Joyce and Harry Fox.
They went on their “Trip of a Lifetime” in 1984 on a trip to Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. They also went on a wonderful trip with Joyce and Harry Fox to Hawaii.
Marie always loved music, and played with the Bowden Old Tyme Music Makers with her sister, Joyce Fox and other close friends, Glen Cameron, Stan Harrison, Ed Humphrey, Buela Shot, Olive Harris and Debbie Pocha. They regularly played for dances and entertained at Senior's Lodges in Bowden, Olds, Innisfail, Sundre and Red Deer. After she retired in 1987, Marie and Hank moved to Red Deer and the band was renamed to The Parkland Old Tyme Music Makers; where other musicians joined, and they played all around Central Alberta.
While in Red Deer, Marie and Hank became active members of Downtown House and the Happy Gang Singers and continued to bring the joy of music and drama skits to their many friends and fans.
Following Hank's passing in 2012, Marie moved to Calgary, first living at Wentworth Manor then moving to Prince of Peace Manor in Calgary, where she passed peacefully, surrounded by her loving children.
Marie is survived by her children, Irv Chamney and wife, Lynn of Calgary and Joyce Brooks and husband, Brad of Houston, Texas, grandchildren, Jill, Christina, Cassie and Amanda. great grandchildren, Aeris, Danika, Eden, Easton and Rose. Marie is also survived by her best friend and sister, Joyce Fox of Bowden.
She was predeceased by a daughter, Heather in 1952, her husband, Hank in 2012 and her brother-in-law, Harry Fox in 2016.
The family would like to recognize and give special thanks to the staff at Prince of Peace Manor in Calgary. All of the staff there treated her like family with love and care. We can never fully express our gratitude and how much their care for our mother meant to all of us.