Mary Forrest George  ~  Elizabeth Thornton

Mary died on July 12, 2010 at Victoria General Hospital. She was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, on January 24, 1940.

She leaves to mourn, Forbes, her beloved husband of 51 years, her three sons, Stephen, (Valerie), Peter (Tamara), Tom (Dan), and grandchildren Kaitlin, Megan, Robert, Nicholas, and Zoë.

Mary was a woman of many gifts. She was a primary school teacher in Scotland, started her own nursery school in Aberdeen, then, on coming to Canada, continued her career in education by teaching elementary school for some years. Always active in her church, she became Pastoral Assistant in First Presbyterian Church, Winnipeg, a position she said was the “best job ever!” She left this position after eleven years to become a full-time writer. One of her passions was history which she nurtured by earning an Honours Classics degree at the University of Winnipeg and by becoming Classics Gold Medalist. Her love of history was also revealed in the twenty-seven historical romance novels she wrote that were published under the pen-name, Elizabeth Thornton, her mother’s name, gaining her a reputation as an international best-selling author.

Above all these career successes, however, what shone through in her life was her love for her family: her husband and her three sons, their respective partners and her five grandchildren. Mary was for many years an active elder in First Presbyterian Church, a church and people she loved.

Our heartfelt thanks go to Doctors Griffin and Paul, nurses Dana and Suzanne, and all the staff of 4 South at Victoria General Hospital.

Please, no flowers, but donations may be made in Mary’s memory to the Canadian Liver Foundation or the Winnipeg Humane Society.

Respecting her wishes, cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 62 Picardy Place, Winnipeg, R3G 0X6, on Friday, July 16 at 11:00 AM. The Rev. Dr. Bruce Miles officiating.

Our hearts here at Book Cove Reviews goes out to her husband and her family, they all will be in our thoughts and prayers.  She will be missed by all who loved her and her writing.