Evelyn died peacefully in Comox, BC with family at her side on March 8, 2014. Born in 1924 near Argyle, MB, Ev was the fifth surviving child (& first daughter) of Doris & Albert Warburton. She grew up on farms near Argyle, Grosse Isle, and Poplar Point, Manitoba, and then joined the RCAF Women’s Division after the combat death of her brother Eric. Stationed at Dauphin, MB, she met Johnny Sorfleet, an RAF pilot trainee, wed him in 1944, and moved to England.
After his demobilization, they returned to MB where Johnny worked as an electrician before joining the RCAF. Among their postings were Saskatoon, Centralia, Bagotville, North Bay, Cold Lake, Ottawa, Downsview, Cape Canaveral, Winnipeg, St. Hubert and BC. Post-service, they initially lived again in Winnipeg, where Evelyn worked for Eaton’s and Transair, then Vancouver, where she was an exemplary instructor in Porcelain Doll Making. In 2011, she relocated to Comox, to be closer to her daughter Marjorie.
Evelyn’s greatest interest was her immediate family: Bob (m. Elizabeth), Jim (m. Hope), Ken (m. Rosemary), and Marjorie (m. Roger), and their families (including grandchildren Winston, Christopher, Patrick, Dana, and Kat, plus their partners, plus great-granddaughters Willow and Madeleine), plus her extended family--the whole of the Warburton and Sorfleet clans. Further, she treated everyone she knew much like her family with a warm, welcoming heart and a genuine, abiding concern.
A lifelong reader, Evelyn’s other hobbies involved many arts and crafts elements including knitting, crocheting, making clothes, copper work, and painting; and for the last decades, ceramics, doll-making and quilting. Family members of two generations deeply treasure the wonderful quilts she created especially for them.
Evelyn’s last weeks were spent in hospital, read to by her children, listening to some favourite music and hymns, and being visited personally or via telephone by family and friends. She deeply appreciated the long-distance phone calls, cards, and messages from the many who loved her.
A woman of Christian faith since her earliest days, she passed peacefully from this phase of her life. She was predeceased by her husband John (2005), her son James (1987), her grand-daughter Dana (2009), and her brothers Jack (2009), Bert (2013), Art (1974), and Eric (1941). She will be deeply missed by her younger sister Marj; all her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews plus their families; and her many other relatives and friends.
Special thanks are due to Dr. Neufeld plus the nurses and staff at St. Joseph’s, for making the last weeks of Ev’s life easier. God bless you all.
A memorial service for family, relatives and friends will be held in April.