Margaret "Peggy" Wanda Buckley

I’d like to start this by saying, what a blessing it is to have those you love around you in your final days. I was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis in 2016 which eventually took my life.

I am survived by my husband of 42 years George Clark, dog Sadie, son William Clark and his wife Stephanie Moody (Veronica and Jack), my daughter Beth Clark and her partner Chris Kennedy (Sloan and Bo), stepdaughters Tracy Clark (Nina and Christina), Kim Clark (Larissa) and my sister Mary’s children, Kathrine, Jeffrey and Michael Peter. I have outlived my parents (Jack Buckley and Patricia Buckley (nee Aull)) and my sisters, Mary Peter and Helen Buckley.

I was born on December 8, 1948 in Carrot River, Saskatchewan and moved around Canada with my family during my childhood. I attended schools in Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec and Ontario. I received an Arts Degree from the University of Calgary in Sociology and Political Science and 9/11^th of an education degree. I moved overseas in 1971 to pursue adventure. Belaying off Yamnuska Mountain and glissading with an ice axe provided some preparation for crocodile infested swamps, safaris that included being charged by an elephant and… snakes - although, you can never be prepared for snakes. Africa was formative and beautiful but it also cast tragedy as I came close to my death after a man chased me with a hatchet and I was hit by a car attempting to escape. After experiencing Zambian surgical and medical care and four years of teaching at an adult male school in the bush and having learnt African history from evolution to independence, I moved to London. On scholarship at the University of London, I pursued a degree in African Studies.

When I moved back to Canada in 1977, I had next to nothing in my bank account. So, I accepted a government job advising in Adult Education, in the rural town of LaRonge, where I met the man that nailed my ass to Saskatchewan. George came with a family, having daughters from a first marriage and we expanded the family having two children together and bought a cabin on the lake. With over 40+ years of blood sweat and tears building that cabin, it is a testament to broken fingers, creative swearing, near misses but above all plenty of cherished memories with good people. I am grateful my parents and sisters were able to visit that beloved place. We built a life that was full of rich friends, adventure, much love and an incredible feeling for the land that brought us together - the North and its natural splendor and beauty.

Despite a rich career teaching for both Saskatchewan Universities and consulting on adult education, I found new opportunities to lead and implement various education initiatives through the senior policy roles I held in provincial government at the end of my career. Undoubtably the high points of my life have been the safe birth of both children, raising them, loving them and adoring them but most especially, seeing them create their own families and giving me grandchildren, full of life and bright futures. I am also thankful for the long-term friendships with people like Rod and Betty Spooner, Jim and Donna Scarfe, Bill and Marlette McLaughlin, Donna Woloshyn and many others. Thank you to all the characters that have touched my life in meaningful ways, put a smile on my face, encouraged my warped sense of humour and let me be my authentic self.

In an autobiography I wrote for a CUSO application in 1971, I said I hoped to look back on my life and laugh as well as wonder at what I saw. I feel I can do that.

A private Celebration of Life was held. In lieu of flowers, be kind to one another and support a local charity.