Grace Isabella (Kirkness) Leggott
Grace Isabella (Kirkness) Leggott was born on August 21st, 1915 on a small farm North of Lanigan. She had an older brother Anson, a younger brother Bill and one younger sister Eva. Her mother passed away when she was 7 years old. She grew up with very humble beginnings. She went to Elmsville School which the building is still situated North of town. The first day of school she fell off the wagon and broke her collar bone, therefore she started using her left hand. She took further schooling in Lanigan. She won an Art Award. Grace started working as a hired girl for several people in the community including the Paproski’s and the Elliots who both had twins. She met Harold at a country school dance. They got married on November 5th, 1938 and lived on a farm South East of Lanigan. They enjoyed years of square dancing with friends. They had many fun visits with friends. They had a family of five: Thomas, Luella, Isabel, Irene and Nancy. Grace loved living on the farm raising not only her children but chickens, turkeys, cats, dogs and also milked cows. She loved her big garden and grew potatoes, raspberries, strawberries, & rhubarb which led to lots of canning, making pickles and preserves. Many of these were sold in town which paid for the groceries for her family. The children’s birthday parties consisted of her freshly home made buns with egg salad or salmon; and a cake with money, buttons or rings inside. These parties were also enjoyed by all the neighbours around the Harold Leggott farm! If you came for a visit it was never a bit of trouble for her to prepare a meal. You were always welcome! An annual family trip to Waskesiu was made. Grace was a loving care-giver to her mother-in-law for many years. Her faith was always important in her life and the children were baptized, attended Sunday School regularly and confirmed at the Lanigan Knox United Church. The children grew up and left home. Each one had to have their Grade 12 plus a secondary education of their choice. Grace worked at the Lanigan Hospital for 12 years, then baby sat children for several years. Harold and Grace moved to town in December 1972 and lived on Vetsholme Drive where they totally enjoyed their neighbours! She continued with her big garden and apple trees with Harold giving her a hand. After 40 years of marriage they went on their first honeymoon trip to Hawaii. That led to many more trips to the Islands over the years and it was truly their favourite place to vacation! They also travelled in the States, BC, AB, MB as well as had many camping trips with friends in SK. Grace’s father wanted her to keep in touch with the Scottish and English relatives, which she did, with many letters back and forth over the sea which led to several visits. Grace took each daughter along with her for a two week visit. Her last big trip was to Jamaica for her granddaughters wedding at the age of 95 and she thoroughly enjoyed going on a gondola! Her hobbies were quilting, knitting, taking lots of pictures, keeping her diary and photo albums up to date. Loving her many flowers she kept lots of house plants. Harold passed away December 1999 and Grace continued in her own home until December 4th, 2013 when she became a Resident of Central Parkland Lodge until her passing on July 21st, 2015 - exactly one month prior to her being 100 years old.
She told Irene “I made my deadline!” Irene asked ‘what deadline?” She said “100 yrs. old” and she then told Irene “you’re slipping!” Isabel spent time curling her hair on her visits & taking her to a lot of great functions. Mom enjoyed Lue’s visits and they talked about the twin granddaughters! Grace had spent the last weekend in the hospital having tests. Upon her return to the Lodge on Monday July 20th she was in such a good mood & thought it was her birthday. Nancy visited in the afternoon and was asked by her mother “When do you work next?” Nancy replied “tomorrow” and her mother looked at her with a disgusted look and said but tomorrow is my birthday! Being the 21st (of July) she thought she had reached her goal - so in her mind she had made it and God called this loving woman home!