Olive Longley “Ollie” was born Olive Rhoda Parker in a small prairie cabin near Bluesky Alberta, September 3, 1919. Her father was a teacher but chose to move to Edmonton Alberta before the depression and ran a market garden business.
In 1943 Olive left Alberta to join the forces and became a Sargent in the RCAF Womens Division. After the war she moved to Toronto and lived with her sister and cousin. She worked three jobs, saved her earnings, and eventually bought a 40 acre parcel of waterfront property on a small remote lake near Bancroft Ontario. There she and scores of relatives and friends built a rustic log cabin which became known as the “live and learn lodge”. Soon a hard working husband and a wilderness loving daughter joined the crew and lots of living and learning were had by many at that lodge over the 60 years that followed. Over her lifetime Olive was very involved with the C.G.I.T., a christian womens organization, and acted as Camp Director and secretary of the board for “Ryde Lake Camp” near Gravenhurst ON. Olive also worked as a secretary at a publishing company “The Book Society of Canada” and after her husband, Donald Longley, passed away in 1973 she started travelling extensively. Upon retiring Olive moved to Peterborough Ontario to be close to her relatives and her cottage. She joined the Legion and 452 wing of the Air Force Club and became well known and admired for her creative verses and poetry recitation. At age 88 and with failing health Olive made the courageous decision to move west to Nelson British Columbia and live with her daughter and granddaughter. She enjoyed making many happy memories with her family in BC for over 4 years and then passed away peacefully at Mountain Lakes Seniors home, December 24, 2011 at the age of 92 with her daughter and granddaughter at her side. Olive is survived and lovingly remembered by her daughter Ashala Yardley and her two granddaughters Kristal Yardley and Anestacia Reid. She is also survived by her niece and nephew Helen and John Wilson and by scores of cousins, most notably, Nora and Gladys Parker and Bonnie and Tim Sheehan. In lieu of flowers a donation “in memory of Olive” can be made to Ryde Lake Camp, Box 7854 Poplar Lane, Washago
ON , L0K 2B0