Arlene (Mathers) Sampson

In Loving Memory of
Arlene 
Sampson
age 80
Beloved wife of the late Roy Sampson 
Lovingly remembered by her daughters 
Cherie (Ken) Kendyle, Jaryn Orr
Leta (Bert) and Thea van Duin

Died
September 7, 2020
Tri Lake Health Centre
Killarney, Manitoba
 

Private graveside will take place at Hillside Cemetery, Belmont, MB. 

Each day brings new challenges 
and in remembrance 
of Arlene, please greet everyone 
with a smile and 
(as she always said) 
maybe it will brighten their day!
 (and just maybe yours too!)

Rest easy Grandma Arlene, 
we see you smiling!

Elva “Arlene” (Mathers) Sampson was born August 29, 1940 at the hospital in Baldur, MB and passed away September 7, 2020 at Tri-Lake Health Centre in Killarney, MB. She was the eldest daughter of David and Ella (Nicholson) Mathers. Arlene grew up on a farm next to Pelican Lake and spent many summers at Y Point with lots of great memories of lake life.
As a young child, Arlene spent a lot of time with her dad helping with chores around the farm and enjoyed being outdoors. Her favorite memories of childhood included playing on a poplar bush tree-swing, building a raft every spring to see if it would float on the slough close to the house, and getting a brand new bike to ride to school - which was a 4.5-mile journey on gravel roads. She enjoyed dances in Belmont, where they had a teen canteen and danced to record music. Music was important to Arlene throughout her life. She played piano and accordion by ear for her own enjoyment. At one time, the farm was robbed of some tools and the accordion. The tools were recovered, but to her dismay, the accordion was not.  It was not long until a replacement was acquired. 
In 1963, Arlene married Roy Sampson, whom she met while working as a sales clerk in a hardware store. Arlene had to have a crash course in the “Sampson way” of farming, and learn the terms of heavy equipment in a hurry! Arlene and Roy had two daughters: Leta Faye, born December 16, 1964, and Cherie Lea, born June 6, 1967. They lived and farmed in the Neelin/Huntly District until 1977 when they sold the farm and moved to Killarney. There they started a business known as Sampson's Sand & Gravel. They hauled mostly for municipalities, graveling roads as far west as the Saskatchewan border and as far east as Greenway. They sold the business in December 2002, after Roy’s health began to decline.
Arlene was a sharp businesswoman and a strong advocate for women’s rights. She frequently spoke of how it was when she was in her 20s, when a woman could not legally sign her own name for credit or legal documents and had to use her husband’s name instead. One of her greatest fears was that young women today wouldn’t realize how important those rights were to get, or how easily they might be taken. She was pleased to see how far women’s rights came along in her lifetime. As her daughter’s respective husbands can attest, both daughters inherited a strong sense of independence, solidified early on by hearing these recollections and seeing her example. 
One of her greatest joys in life was being “Grandma Arlene”. She was thrilled when her first granddaughter Thea was born, and made as many trips to Calgary to see her as she could. She enjoyed hearing about Thea’s photography accomplishments and travelling adventures. Her second granddaughter Kendyle and grandson Jaryn were very fortunate to be a large part of her life. Arlene never missed a Christmas morning, and always arrived before the grandchildren woke up (which was VERY EARLY!) Arlene taught her two daughters how to drive and was determined to teach her grandchildren this life skill as well. Arlene was always there for any sporting event or extra-curricular activity that the Orr grandchildren were a part of. She especially enjoyed ball games and always had scrap paper and a pen to keep score, so she knew it was “correct”. She was affectionately known by many as “Grandma Arlene”. 
As Arlene’s legs weakened, her mode of transportation shifted to a scooter, which allowed her a freedom she would not otherwise have had. In later years, Arlene loved doing puzzles, going for lunch, and visiting at congregate meals. She spent most of her day out and about in Killarney, and thoroughly enjoyed visiting with everyone along the way! She made a special connection with EVERYONE she met, young or old. Whether she knew you at the beginning of the conversation or not, by the end of the conversation you were guaranteed a special place in her heart. She also had a soft spot for a few pets in her life, and we know Sadie, Lacy and Kelsi have been waiting for her! Baxtyr is left behind to still ride the scooter.
She is survived by her daughter Cherie (Ken) Orr and granddaughter Kendyle and grandson Jaryn of Killarney, MB; her daughter Leta (Bert) van Duin of Calgary, AB and granddaughter Thea of Bristol, UK; sister Beverley (John) Burkart of Okanagan Falls, BC; sister Wanda (Dave) Kehler of Brunkild, MB; and her sister-in-law Ella Cooney of Baldur, MB; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Roy Sampson (2004); her father David Edward Mathers (1986); mother Ella Margaret (Nicholson) Mathers (1987); brother Ron Mathers (1996); as well as sisters-in law, Eileen Mathers and Flora Bell; and brothers-in-law, Bill Cooney, Bob Bell and Bill Woods. She will be laid to rest at Hillside Cemetery in Belmont, MB on September 12, 2020. 
Each day brings new challenges and in remembrance of Arlene, please greet everyone with a smile and (as she always said) maybe it will brighten their day! (And just maybe yours too!)
Rest easy Grandma Arlene, we see you smiling!

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