Edith Laura Thompson was born in Minnedosa, Manitoba on April 3, 1918. Her parents were Charles and Annie Elizabeth [Davison] Thompson. Edith died on Friday, December 18. 2008 at her home at the Emerson P.C.H. Left to mourn her passing are her brother-in-law Malcolm Murdock of Toronto, Ontario, her cousin Dorothy Shelby of the Emerson P.C.H., her friends Clayton and Eileen Gunn of Greenridge, as well as the staff at the Emerson P.C.H. Edith was predeceased by her cousin/companion Theodore Strange in 2004, and her only sister Thelma Murdock in 2006. Edith attended normal school right after high school and began a teaching career, which lasted for a number of years. She taught at a variety of schools, including Emerson. The happiest time of Edith’s life was spent working at a dude ranch in Nanton, Alberta where she could ride her horse to her heart’s content. She developed friendships there, which she maintained throughout the rest of her life. When uncle Bert Davison and cousin Theo offered Edith the position of housekeeper at the farm at Greenridge in the early 50’s, she took up the challenge and became the right-hand woman to the pair. Edith was involved in every aspect of the farm. It was she who weeded the evergreens that the men had planted around the farm site and they remain as a landmark in the community. She helped with the grain farming as well as the cattle. Edith was an avid gardener, and until the time when her health began to fail, the yard would be a blaze of color all summer. She was very knowledgeable about horticulture and grew an amazing variety of plants and trees, including fruit trees. There were always lots of vegetables for canning and freezing as well as for sharing with others. Her perennials as well she loved to share, especially in later years when she feared her inability to care for them would cause their destruction. Edith’s other passion was her animals, both domestic and wild. At any given time, she might have a couple of horses, several dogs, some cats, a bird, goldfish, and for several years, a goose. The bird feeders were always full, and an amazing number and variety of birds enjoyed her charity. Edith spent countless hours working on the family history. She kept track of numerous relatives and wrote endless letters. She was a member of the W.I., horticultural society, and for several years was the Greenridge correspondent for the Carillon News. Cremation has taken place. In keeping with Edith’s wishes, there will be no formal funeral service. A time of remembering and fellowship will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, December 22, 2008 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church hall in Emerson, Manitoba, with Reverend Mel Waddle officiating. Ash internment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, a donation may be made to the Greenridge Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 22, Greenridge, Manitoba, R0A 0P0.