Elizabeth Stevens was born July 1, 1908 in Sumas Prairie; she was one of eight children. She was schooled in Abbotsford and graduated from Sheffield High. Elizabeth wanted to pursue a career in nursing but the funding was not available. Instead, she went to work in the Aylmer Cannery in Mission.
In 1929 she met Gordon Stevens and married in 1931. They had three children, Melvin, Betty (McMahon) and Lillian (Bodell). They had a dairy farm on Sumas Prairie; adjacent to the Costco Warehouse on Sumas Way. In 1951 they bought a dairy farm in Dewdney. In 1980 Elizabeth moved from the family farm to live in Mission.
Elizabeth was always known for her caring ways. Anytime someone was sick, she was always there. In the mid-sixties, she successfully completed the St. John’s First Aid course.
Diagnosed with Celiac disease in her mid-forties, and the loss of her eyesight in her mid-eighties, she never gave up managing to cope in any situation. She was fiercely independent.
Elizabeth was a member of the Mission Golden Age Bowling league for 25 years, and continued to bowl after she lost her eyesight.
Betty McMahon loved her mother very much and wanted to honor her memory by creating this fund in August of 2000. Designed to help students enter the nursing profession, this fund has provided 32 scholarships totaling $30,750.00 to Mission students.
If you would like to help a student study nursing, donate today!