“The Saturday night dances at the Melita Coliseum attracted young and old alike and I would catch a ride with Aunt Nellie and son George Pue. There was an excellent band and a handsome guy playing the drums.”
“I certainly liked what I saw and I guess he liked what he saw.”
Much to the chagrin of their mothers, the young adults started dating.
“Mom thought a stenographer had hopes of working in a doctor or lawyer’s office and marrying the same,” she explained. “Jock’s mother thought his eyes should be on a strong farmer’s daughter.”
Jock and Lois thought otherwise and they eloped during Lois’ Christmas holidays from Grand Bend School.
Nothing was going to stop the young couple as they were sure of their love. Before boarding the train Jock asked Mr. Feader the jeweler if they could shop after supper. Jock paid $5 for the ring and Lois paid $5 for the marriage certificate.
Jock got on the train at Melita and Lois got on at Napinka, with plans to get married in Brandon. Jock was concerned Lois wouldn’t get on at Napinka because her father was loading the train.
“The expressman told us dad was wiping tears,” reminisced Lois. “We tried to supplement those tears with smiles when he held our first little girl.”
Those tears were replaced with smiles five times more over the years with each new baby born.
Mr. Fonger passed away in 1960, a year before the Carrs’ youngest child Judy was born.
Lois indeed did get on the train and she and Jock were married at First United Church in Brandon on December 29, 1945. The ministers and his two daughters were the witnesses.
The newlyweds were honoured with a shower, hosted by their neighbour Mrs. Keith Sherman and they were welcomed into the West Brenda District.
“Both sets of parents accepted us back in the family and as each of our six children were born their acceptance became stronger,” said Lois.
“Jock worked hard all his life. Before getting married he worked with Sam Gould and his three sons and Jack Holden on a threshing crew. Dad bought flax for a half section Jock rented. There was enough money when the flax sold to buy a half section in the RM of Albert.”
Jock farmed with horses until he bought a Massey Harris tractor from Percy Reid at Pipestone. This paved the way for Jock and Royal Pue to rent more land in Broomhill district, and they paid for the tractor and equipment in the first year.
When Jock’s parents moved off the farm to Melita, his mother Mary Carr opened a nursing home for maternity cases, working with Dr. Wilson before the hospital was established. Jock and Lois’ two oldest children, Trudy and Doug were born in Mrs. Forsythe’s nursing home, their third child Sheila was born in Grandma Carr’s nursing home, Johnny was born at the Souris Hospital (because grandma’s nursing home was full) and then the two youngest, Pat and Judy were born at the Melita Hospital.
“The large home on the farm burned from an electrical wiring mishap, so we moved to Mel Wilson’s farm. A dance was held in Napinka where money, clothing and home furnishings were donated to our little family.”
The Carrs’ built their new home on the farm in 1966 where many memories were made with Christmas gatherings, grandchildrens’ birthdays, weddings and anniversaries. The yard was filled with snowmobiles in winter and motorcycles and quads in summer.
 “I acquired the skill of making pies from mom and the counter was often lined with pies for family supper on Sundays.”
In 1996 after decades of the happy years on the farm, Jock and Lois moved into Melita. Their youngest son Pat bought the farm.
Jock and Lois are so thankful for their six beautiful children, 16 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren. Their lives were forever changed in 1996 when they lost their son Johnny at the age of 45.
A few years ago Jock’s legs became weak and he began using a walker. He experienced good health up to that time.
“Unable to meet medical and nursing needs, Jock was taken to Melita Hospital and from there he was accepted at the personal care home in Deloraine. Once a bed becomes available in Melita, Jock will be moved home,” said Lois.
This separation is difficult for both Jock and Lois. Their daughter Trudy drives her mother to Deloraine every day to visit. Everyone who knows Lois will tell you she is a young 96 years of age, but these trips and being apart takes its toll. Hopefully a bed will become available soon. Either way, the love shared by Jock, age 98 and Lois, age 96 is as strong and sure as it was 75 years ago.

by JUDY WELLS, Recorder Staff