Arabella May Jamieson
1880 - 1946


" Each life is a miracle that changes the world
and leaves it a better place than it was before "

My grandmother Arabella May JAMIESON was born August 7th 1880 in Pembroke Ontario.
She was the daughter of Henry JAMIESON and Marion AIRTH, who were first cousins.

Arabella May JAMIESON ~ abt 12 yrs old
(3rd from left at front in pleated dress)
with her family at her parents' 25th Anniversary

The Alberta School Hospital is on land that Henry JAMIESON donated,
originally the Presbyterian Ladies' College in 1910.
Henry was a very successful dairy farmer in Red Deer
at the time of his daughter's wedding.

Their first child, Jean Stewart, was born Jul 28 1905 in Red Deer Alberta.
She was baptised Nov 18 1906 at Knox Presbyterian Church Red Deer.
In the parish register, James was listed as a 'mill owner' in Red Deer.

Ethel May was born Nov 20 1907 in Red Deer.
She was baptised Dec 27 1908 at Knox Presbyterian Church.
In the parish register, James was listed as a 'lumberman' in Red Deer.

In 1919, James & Arabella were living in Rocky Mountain House
with their 2 daughters, Janet (Jean) age 14 and Ethel May (Ted) age 12.

In Jan 1920, Arabella's father, Henry JAMIESON
suffered a stroke and steadily lost strength,
although his mental faculties were almost unimpaired to the end.

Arabella ~ abt 37 years old

In October 1926, James & Arabella had a 3rd child, a son,
born almost 19 years after their last !!
Quite a Thanksgiving surprise!!
He grew up with 2 dear sisters, both able and willing to take care of him.

James & Arabella moved to Fernie BC in 1928.
where he began another sawmill which proved very successful.

1931 was the year that James & Arabella and their family moved to Kamloops BC,
where Jim & Belle (as they were known) would remain for the rest of their lives.

James & Arabella's 40th Wedding Anniversary ~ 1944

She died 2 years after this milestone anniversary
on May 16 1946 at the Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops BC at the age of 65.

CAUSE of DEATH
Cerebral hemorrhage ~ duration 2 days
Generalized arterioschlerosis ~ duration 10 years

She is buried in the Pleasant Street Cemetary in Kamloops BC.


James lived for many more years,
dying Jun 20 1966 at the Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops BC at the age of 97.

On his death certificate, his daughter Jean states
that her father had lived in British Columbia for 69 years since 1897
and in Kamloops for 36 years since 1930.
He had worked in lumbering and mining for most of his working life
and had last worked in this occupation in 1946 at the age of 77 !!

She noted that James had had recent surgery on Apr 29 1966
and his doctor found carcinoma of the gall bladder.
He was under his doctor's care from 1960 to the day of his death.

CAUSE of DEATH
Carcinoma (Cancer) of the Gall Bladder ~ Duration 6 months

Arabella May JAMIESON & James Stewart McKECHNIE were my Grandparents !!

Return to McKechnie Direct Ancestor Line
Stewart Direct Ancestor Line

James & Arabella - Marriage Announcement
Henry Jamieson - Pioneer of Central Alberta - Arabella's father
William Jamieson -Arabella's grandfather
James Stewart McKechnie - Arabella's husband
Marion Ethel Jamieson & William Laughlin McKinnon - Arabella's sister & husband