It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Meryl McKeand at the age of 98 at the Brandon Regional Health Centre on Sunday, April 20, 2025, with family by her side.

Meryl was born on April 15, 1927, in the RM of Elton. She was the eldest of 5 children.
Meryl had her first years of schooling at the Elton one-room country school that was 3 miles north of Douglas. In 1934 their family moved to a farm at Justice and Meryl attended Justice Consolidated School for three years before her and her family in 1937 went to live near Grande Prairie in the Peace River country of Alberta. In the spring of 1939, the family returned to Douglas. Meryl then attended Matheson School, which was a two and a half mile walk from home.

In the spring of 1942, the family moved to live on a farm at Chater, Manitoba where Meryl continued her education. The following year she received her grade 12 diploma after attending St. Michael's academy in Brandon.

She always enjoyed school and had a keen interest in striving for accomplishment and high academic achievement throughout her school years. With attending so many different schools, Meryl learned early in life to be outgoing and how to get along and work with people. This gave her a broad spectrum of life and general knowledge.

In 1944 Meryl returned to the Douglas District as a teacher at Matheson and later Norman schools. While teaching at Matheson she renewed an earlier school day acquaintance with James McKeand and on July 5, 1947, Jim and Meryl were married and began their life together right across the road from where Meryl began her life.

Meryl, as well as managing the home duties, was also very active in the community. She was involved in the organization of the Women's Institute at Douglas in 1948 and held different offices in the following years. She likewise carried responsibilities in the Douglas Church Women's Auxiliary and the Sunday School. Meryl was a very talented seamstress and always made sure everyone in the family had a special outfit for every occasion.

In 1971, Meryl had the opportunity to re-enter the workforce and accepted the new challenge. She began work at the military base CFB Shilo in the clerical field and became the Base's switchboard supervisor which she was renowned for through her 21 years of service. A display of Meryl at her switchboard can still be seen at the RCA Museum in Shilo.

With a continuing interest in education, it led her to become a trustee for Ward 1 in the Rolling River School Division. She served the area for 21 years and it was through her efforts and determination that Douglas not only remained a viable school but was also expanded.

In 1987 James passed away and Meryl remained living on the farm. She enjoyed her retirement years with her friends Mayme Doak, Grace Whaley and her special friend Leonard Nagorski. They would all go to dances, fall suppers, bingos and had many fun years.
Meryl loved crafts of all kinds and would spend hours with the kids showing them how to make things. She loved to travel and travelled extensively across Canada and to worldwide destinations and enjoyed experiencing the local cultures.

Every spring the highlight for her would be to take the grandchildren or anyone else that wanted to go on a search for the first crocuses of the season and was delighted when she found them.

Family was very important to her, and she was excited that her family had grown to 5 generations.

In 2010 Meryl moved into Victoria Landing in Brandon which ironically was located on the exact site as St. Michael's Academy where she had attended school 67 years before. She resided at Victoria Landing for 14 years and everyone knew her as one of the originals where she was well-known and well-liked by all staff. Meryl spent the last 5 months of her life in the Prairie Mountain Regional Health Facility until she passed on April 20, 2025

Meryl is predeceased by her husband James McKeand; parents Thomas and Eura Gillespie; three sisters Iowne (Earl) Stephenson, Elva Jackson, Betty (Orville) Goddard; brother Mac Gillespie and her sons-in-law Chuck Sinclair and Gary Demkey.

She is lovingly remembered by her daughters Elaine Sinclair and Janet Demkey; granddaughters Jennifer (Doug) Muirhead and Pamela (Mike) Ricklefs; great grandchildren Ryan and Justin Muirhead and Jessica (Nick) and Jamie Ricklefs, and great-great granddaughters Rylee and Bowyn Haw as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Service will be held at Memories Chapel, 330 18th Street North on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 1:00 pm. A reception will follow. Interment will be at Madford Cemetery.

Donations in memory of Meryl may be made to Douglas Community Recreation Association, Box 301, Douglas MB R0K 0R0 or to Madford Cemetery c/o Box 224, Douglas, MB R0K 0R0.