Elsie Stocks

Elsie Stocks was born in 1928 as Elsie Walker. Her middle name was Alvena, and she hated it. Her parents were Fred and Martha Walker. She was one of eight siblings—Samuel, Daniel, Herbert, Esther, Alvin, Wilma (Penny) and William. Alvin and William were Elsie and Penny’s twin brothers who both passed away as infants.

In a family history book, Elsie wrote about her parents, “I don’t know how Mom and Dad had the strength to come through all the tough times and sad times they had, but they did. They also had many good times.” The same could be said about Elsie.

Alan Clark was her first husband, whom she married in 1948, with whom she had two children: Donna and Fredrick (Rick). Alan passed away in 1954 in a car accident. Widowed, with two small children, Elsie worked, had two corner stores at different times, and was constantly involved in improving herself, taking classes, trying different careers, racing from one place to another, but always spreading good cheer.

Elsie was quick-witted, funny, and bubbly. She thought everyone was “just beautiful”. She worried about everyone and constantly sought harmony. She was quick to forgive and just as quick to tell someone unreasonable to go “pee up a rope.”

In 1959 Elsie married Wes Stocks, with whom she had two more children, Ben and Cassie. In 1971 they moved to an acreage outside of Sherwood Park where she lived until Wes’ death in 2018, when she moved to a seniors condo in Fort Saskatchewan. In their later years, she and Wes enjoyed cruises to many parts of the world.

In an interview at her final continuing care home, Elsie said that her greatest accomplishment was raising “nice kids,” but that certainly wouldn’t have been possible without her “nice” example and guidance.

For many years, Elsie worked in various offices as a medical secretary. She also helped out at Ben and Karen Stocks’ greenhouse, but her favourite activity was picking berries. She loved to be out in the berry patch, where there were “no phones and no one talking to her,” and she was free to think deep thoughts or just daydream. For many years, Elsie was an avid reader and could be found up early in the morning, sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and a book open in front of her.

Elsie leaves behind a legacy of vibrance. For over thirty years, she was known as the “Apron Lady” at the Old Strathcona Farmers Market, where she hugged thousands of strangers, many who turned into friends. She believed in generosity. She believed in her family.

Elsie was many things to many people, but above all, she was kind. And she was so very loved.

She is survived by her “nice kids”: Donna (Forrest), Rick, Ben (Karen) and Cassie, adoring grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Kama (Shawn), Joey (Bill), Krissi (Kent), Jessi (Shaun), Julian, Miranda, Colby, and Lincoln, and her many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Elsie’s life will be held later in the summer.