It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tee Backmeyer on Wednesday, June 7, 2017, in Grande Prairie, AB, at the age of 88 years.

Tee was born August 7, 1928 in Scott, SK. She was raised on rented rural farms in the area until her family purchased their own farm near Prince George, BC in 1944. Tee started her formal teacher training in Victoria, BC, in 1947. After graduation, she taught in many schools across BC, ranging in size from a one room school with 23 students across grades 1-7 in Hixon, BC, to a 13 classroom school in Prince George.

A passion for travel took Tee and her husband Jerry on many adventures with family and friends throughout North America and around the world: honeymoon camping to the Grand Canyon; wilderness canoeing trips on the Spatsizi, Dease and Pelly River; a year of volunteer work in Kenya; vacations in Australia and Central America; not to mention the sunny beaches of Mexico, Costa Rica, Bali, and Hawaii.

Tee also had a creative streak that could be seen in her many sewing, knitting and crocheting projects. She also dabbled in painting, pottery, and macramé, when she wanted to walk on the wild side. When arthritis slowed her fingers, she ramped up her creative mind and wrote many memory books and children’s stories for the family.

Her memory will be cherished by her foster sister Joan Slater; sons: Joe (Sandra), Rod, Don (Cathy), and Greg (Karen); 14 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; as well as nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was predeceased by her loving husband of 62 years Jerry; her parents; 5 brothers; and 2 sisters.

A Prayer Service will be held on Tuesday, June 13, 2017, at 7:30pm, at Oliver’s Funeral Home in Grande Prairie (10005 107 Ave.).

A Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, June 14, 2017, at 11:00am, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Grande Prairie (10404 102 St.).

In lieu of memorial donations, please read a story to a child in memory of Tee.