In my second year of University, around 1987 or 88 I went to Jamaica with Nan (Olive) and my mom, Arlene. We spent a wonderful week at a resort and did many tours. One day, we went to a beach BBQ and it rained all day. That did not stop Nan from kicking off her shoes and dancing in the mud and singing Yellow Bird with the band. My other favourite memory from that trip was climbing Dunn's River Falls with Nan. She never shied away from adventure. When I sat down to add a story here, there were too many to write down. She taught me to cook, she listened to my challenges and successes. She inspired me. She always told me she was proud of me and that she loved me. She really lived. I miss her a lot. If I have inherited even a tiny part of her genes, I am very lucky indeed!

Added by Tony on behalf of Gary

Olive enjoyed music and was a member of the Sweet Adelines Chorus and would be very happy to join in with friend and family to sing the old and the contemporary hits.  We always enjoyed her version of “The Persian Kitten” which we never failed to be requested at party time and she would oblige by giving her best. Of course it was even more fun when Ken accompanied her on the guitar.

Here are the lyrics:
A Persian kitten purfumed and fair
Strolled out to the kitchen door for air
A Tom cat big, light, lean and strong
And dirty and yella came along
He sniffed at the purfumed persian cat
As she strutted around with much eclat
Then thinking a little time to pass
He whispered baby you sure got class
It's fitting and proper was her reply
As she arched the whiskers over her eye
I'm ribboned and I sleep on a pillow of silk
And daily I'm bathed in certified milk
Folks oughta be happy with what they've got
I oughta be happy, but happy I'm not
I oughta be happy yes I should indeed
Because I'm certainly highly pedigreed
Cheer up said the tom cat with a smile
And trust your new found friend for awhile
You oughta escape from your back yard fence
Ah my dear what you need is experience
Untold tales he then unfurled
He told her all the tales about the outside world
Suggesting at last with a luring laugh
A trip for two down Primrose Path
The morning after the night before
Our persian came home about half passed four
The innocent look in her eye had went
But the smile on her face was the smile of content
In the after years when the children came
To this pedigreed persian of pedigreed fame
The children weren't persian; they were black and tan
And she told them that their Dad was a traveling man
A rootin tootin scratchin traveling man

Added by Tony on behalf of Gary.

Olive had a scary experience during the time she was living away from home in Montreal when her father went to pick her up in his truck to bring her home. When driving accross the St Lawrence River on the Victoria bridge they were forced to stop fast and the car following them slammed into their rear and pushed the front wheel of the truck over the edge of the bridge.

She said the American driver and his passengers were more scared than she and father. That truck was in the family for only a few years.

This is Nan up in our treehouse with myself (grandson Tony) and great grandson Spencer. The treehouse is about 15 feet up with a spiral staircase and Nan had no problem getting up. She loved it and was curious on the details of how it was made.

This was a great memory for me - I remember teasing her and saying "I have to tell people I had a 90 year old up in our treehouse". I also remember thinking god I hope I have some of her Newfie genes and live a life as wonderful as hers! She was always such an inspiration to me.