Beatrice was born January 19, 1918, in Meadowbrook. Her two earliest memories are of George getting shot in the leg while hunting and how, every Sunday, many friends of the Heath children would come – all arriving by horseback – and spend the evening making a full house with lots of laughter. Beatrice started school in Meadowbrook, attending the first four grades, before moving to Canmore in 1927.
One day at school, several students received the strap. Bea went into hiding. After all the students got it, Myrtle Riley told the teacher that Beatrice was hiding. After Beatrice was called out, Miss Reed proceeded to strap her as well – hitting her only once – laughing the whole time.
After arriving in Canmore, Beatrice went into grade five without the benefit of writing any grade four exams. Stories of Miss Hill frightened her to the extent that as soon as Miss Hill would walk into the room, Bea would start to cry – so much so that she had to be sent home. This happened every day for almost four weeks. Finally a doctor’s note was given so that she could stay home for the rest of the term. After finishing grade eight, Bea quit school and went to work for her eldest sister, Violet, helping around the house.
Early in 1935, Bea moved back in with her parents as her mother was quite ill with cancer. Bea helped take care of her until she died September 25, 1936. During this time, Bea’s heart would melt at the sight of John Cochrane. They started stepping out but tragedy struck about a year later. One day at work in the mine, he was killed.
World War II broke out and Bea joined the Air Force. She worked hard and was promoted to corporal. While stationed in Pat Bay, B.C., she met and married Blair Fobes, who shared her love for cooking. They married and had one son, Dwayne Darrel, born September 7, 1945. Some time later, Blair left his wife and young son and started a life without them. Divorce followed. To support herself and Dwayne, Bea went into business with her older sister, Elsie, by opening up a Dairy Bar on Main Street in Canmore.
One evening, while out having fun, she met Edward Joseph Cadieux – six feet tall, dark, and looking dashing in a suit. Her heart was lost once again. They were married February 14, 1953, and had one daughter, Edwina (Dena) Royale, born November 6, 1954.
After working at several jobs cooking and, once again, operating a Dairy Bar, this time with her sister-in-law, Pearl, she retired and stayed at home.
I Remember Mama
By Dwayne Fobes
When I was very young, Mom and I lived with Granddad and Uncle Darrel. I don’t remember too much of that time but I do remember Grandad drinking his tea out of a saucer. He would soak little bits of bread in the very sweet brew and feed the “soakies” to me.
Later we lived with Auntie Elsie, Beth and Muriel. Mom worked at the cafe which was in the hotel. I can still see my Mom in her apron, flour up to her elbows, rolling out pastry for her famous pies. She always had time to make something good to eat and let me sit out in the cafe on the spinning stools.
After mom married Ed Cadieux, we always had a car or a truck around. Mom had always wanted to drive but had never learned. After building up her courage for a couple of years, she told me one day that she was taking me for a ride in the old Fargo. Getting it started was no problem – she put it into gear and we lurched backward. Finding the brakes, she ground us to a halt. Trying another gear, we lurched forward but Mom must have hit the gas and forgot to steer because we took out the whole front fence! She gave up and never did learn to drive.
One day, while doing some painting in the house with Carol (sister Daisy’s daughter), Mom put something on the stove for their lunch and then they went outside to do something. Mom forgot the pot on the stove. When she finally went to go back into the house, a solid wall of black smoke blocked the way. Mom wrapped her sweater around her head and crawled into the house to turn the stove off. Then she remembered the dog was inside so she crawled around looking for him and found him under the bed where he still had some air. She wrapped him up in the sweater and rescued him.
Mom loved a good laugh and could find the humour in a situation before anybody else. Once she made a batch of her favourites, Welsh Cakes, but forgot one of the main ingredients. They turned out like rocks so she sent them over to a friend who was always asking her to make some Welsh Cakes. The friend never asked Mom for them again!
Mom did teach me how to make them and I think they should be a standard in every Heath related kitchen so I am sending the recipe.
From the Kitchen of Dwayne Fobes
Welsh Cakes
Serves 36
INGREDIENTS
4 cups flour
4 tsps baking powder
1 cup sugar
1 cup currants
1 / 2 lb butter
4 eggs
1 cup milk
INSTRUCTIONS
Mix all dry ingredients. Blend in butter to coarse size.
Mix eggs and milk, then add to dry ingredients.
Mix well and then roll out to 1/2 inch thick
Cut out and cook slowly on griddle.
