Marjorie Anna Sillerud

A Family Tribute

by Margaret Sillerud (Sister-in-law)

Marjorie Anna Sillerud was born on her father's homestead, April 18, 1919 to parents Annette and Martin Sillerud of Abbey in the Roe School district. In 1923, the birth of her only brother James Donald completed the family of Martin and Annette. Growing up on a pioneer Saskatchewan farm, Marjorie developed a deep appreciation of nature and had an unusual gift of seeing depth of beauty and color in the world about her: Saskatchewan's "living skies" with their clouds, colorful sunsets and sunrises; the nearby Great Sand Hills with their own distinctive landscape; and the plant and animal life of rural Saskatchewan. Her unique way of sensing nature's beauty was later to lead to her lifetime involvement in drawing and painting, transposing the beauty of nature to canvas.

During her childhood Marjorie attended the two-room school of Roe, eight miles southwest of Abbey. She then continued to live on the farm helping in the farm operation - this she preferred over housework. During this period she was also becoming an accomplished seamstress and, only a girl herself, she was employed to sew dresses for some neighborhood girls. No doubt the difficult years of the 1930's depression had led her to forge these skills. Also, in her youth Marjorie had shown an interest in drawing and painting. At age 10 or 12 she received her first set of pastels and began to hone her sills with this art medium.

In 1936, she was married to Gordon McCoy of Abbey. They eloped to Eston, Saskatchewan and were married at Gordon's sister's Anna and Stanley Wales home. They lived in Abbey for a time. While living there, their son Robert was born in 1939 at Cabri Hospital. They later moved to Vancouver, where work was available. In 1944 Marjorie gave birth to twin daughters, Jean and Judith. She then began the busy schedule of raising twins and son Bob. This was the good old days of cloth diapers, tub and scrub board! A photograph of the twins in a double baby carriage was sent to her brother Jim, overseas in WWII at the time. On the back of the snapshot Marjorie jokingly wrote "Double Trouble".

When her family matured to school age and beyond Marjorie sampled various types of employment. She worked as a meat-cutter, until she caught her fingers in the meat grinder. She cooked meals at a senior's home. Her daughter Judy recalls that the patients wept when she turned to alternate employment. She joined a band and played piano for dances. Also when her abilities in sewing became sought after, she sewed for others, sometimes being contracted to sew complete seasonal outfits. She canned canned fruits, meats that were always enjoyed over the years.

Throughout Marjorie's life, sewing was one of her special talents. Every family member has memories of her hand made gifts: such as hand-sewn shirts, vests, little dresses or toys. One very special project was for her granddaughter Teresa - a beautiful purple graduation gown. Marjorie sewed nearly every outer garments that she wore, including jackets and coats, always in colors and fabrics that met her keen artistic judgement. She was even known to remodel fur coats. As a hobby, while watching television, she made bodies of dolls, stuffed them, painted on faces, added under clothing, shoes and traditional dress. Her Native Indian, Eskimo, Gypsy, Ukrainian, Scandinavian, Japanese and Hutterite dolls ... were immaculate and artfully made and much in demand.

While Marjorie lived in Anacortes and Bellingham, Washington, and also White Rock, British Columbia she was always a member of the local art club and began to be quite immersed in painting. At Anacortes she and a small group of artists started a street art sale, which has now grown to be the largest street art sale in Washington. Also, while living in Washington Marjorie took lessons at Skagit Valley College, and in Bellingham, studied under the guidance of Toronto artist Ernest Watson, and Richard Major who taught oil painting. From artist friends in Vancouver she learned the slow and tedious techniques of the old "masters". A large painting (a copy of an original by "Murillo") took six weeks to complete and is a beauty to behold. Marjorie said she loved the old masters and doing a copy was the only way that a master's painting would ever grace her walls.

Painting became Marjorie's livelihood. Jean recalls, "The smiles of joy when they picked up their paintings - said it all."

Four of Marjorie's art experiences while living on the west coast are interesting to recall and were special moments in Marjorie's life. In 1963 at art school, her classmates, who painted in oils, presented her with a birthday gift of oil paints. She learned to love painting in oils and that became her favorite medium. Because of allergies, she later turned to acrylics and watercolors. An unforgettable memory was when the Anacortes Art Club held its first art show in an old warehouse on the waterfront. A ship's captain bought her painting of Mount St. Helens (prior to its volcanic eruption). It reminded him, he said of his own Mount Fuji in his homeland. That was Marjorie's first foreign art sale, and she recalled, "I was walking on air!" Another special occasion was the day when the Anacortes Club turned to "Fence Art" to display their works, and a Countess McGargie, who owned several racing stables, purchased five of her works in one day. Sometime later the countess invited Marjorie and her daughter Judy to her home for tea, and that day Marjorie was to learn that the Countess herself was an accomplished artist. Marjorie felt proud to see her paintings gracing the walls of this prestigious lady. On several occasions Marjorie felt honored to win the "people's choice" award during the showings of her paintings at art shows, but one of her never-to-be-forgotten moments was the Anadessa Art Show when she garnered the top three ratings in the popularity vote: first, to Debutante (a white poodle), second to "Rosebud Creek" and third to "Oriental Poppy".

In 1980 Marjorie moved back to Saskatchewan, to Swift Current where daughter Judy and her husband Harvey Blodgett and, then young, grandchildren Helena and Teresa lived. Here her time continued to be devoted to painting. She joined the South West Artists Guild when it was being formed and enjoyed her association with that group, as well as with the Stewart Valley Art group. Marjorie enjoyed taking art classes, as well as instructing beginning painters, She found pleasure sharing her hobby with others.

In 2001, the South West Artists Guild put together a one-woman showing of Marjorie's works, and held a celebration day honoring her for her lifetime contribution to the arts community in Swift Current. The event was a crowning glory to her lifetime involvement with painting. The recognition was deeply appreciated by Marjorie and her family.

Although Marjorie's involvement in art seemed her "greatest claim to fame" it was her family that was of greatest importance to her. Her granddaughters have blessed her with four great grandchildren: Helena with Chelsea, Layne, and Amber, Colleen with Taylor. Marjorie's happiest moments have been when she had her family near her. Her home reflected her varied interests. Always the pastels or oil paintings took up a corner of her home, with her partly finished painting on the easel. In another corner was her open sewing machine, her latest seasonal creation, partly finished, draping over it. Her piano and her accordion were open, and ready for her daily workout. Music was a high priority in her life and her children have special memories of her old tyme music. On many occasions, the piano rocked with her exuberance while her family and friends danced the evening away. Especially at Christmas or birthday time her projects took over her house while she crafted her ‘Three Kings', kitchen witches, teddy bears and dolls. All family members hoped that Marjorie’s cards and gifts might be one of her hand-made creations. The smell of buns and baking bread filled the room on festive occasions. Marjorie was always quick to offer, "I'll bring the buns and pies!" Her home reflected the busy lifestyle of this multi - talented person.

As a person, Marjorie was usually a quiet, unassuming, cheerful person with periods of outgoing exuberance. She loved music, which could bring out another hidden beauty of her personality. Frail health in the latter part of her life prevented her from doing many of the things that she otherwise would have loved to do.

Life was not "all work and no play". During her most healthful and active years she lived at the west coast. There, Marjorie had four especially treasured girlfriends. Today, only Rolly Carlson, and Bernice Robinson remain - "one of the sad things about being 82!" said, Rolly. In their youthful days, she and her girlfriends had their fun escapades ... one being, Marjorie and Rolly crawling under the fence to get into the drive-in-movie!

Marjorie had a close relationship with her creator. She fought courageously and lost her battle with cancer in June 2001. Her family will miss the power of her prayers.

She will live on in the hearts and minds of those who knew her and loved her. Her works will be treasured family heirlooms, and her art, her legacy to the world.

FOOTNOTE: Throughout her years of painting Marjorie has painted under the names of McCoy, Posthumus, Burruss and returned to her maiden name Sillerud.