Mary McEvitt Court Heggie

Mary McEvitt Heggie (91) peacefully passed away on Jan 20, 2022 at Chinook Regional Hospital. Mary was born in Raymond, Alberta where she was proud to reside the rest of her life as the second youngest child of George and Alice Court and part of a blended family of 26 children (18 living). She enjoyed a wonderful childhood, living in town and out on her parent’s farm three miles west of Raymond by a large canal where she and her siblings often swam after working on the land. She would recall how it was not unusual for them to do the three-mile walk to and from town, as kids did back then.

Mary was a strong character with great work ethic and not afraid to try new things. She played piano and sang in a local band, The Raymond Ladies’ Music Club, The Sweet Adelines ensemble as well as The Singing Mothers. Throughout her life she worked at the Raymond Canadian Sugar Factory, the Sugar Bowl Restaurant, Stone’s Service Store, Raymond Hospital, Raymond Mercantile and at a chiropractor’s office.

She married her one true love Alan Cook Heggie on Sept 24, 1952 and they celebrated 63 years of marriage. They had five children they raised to be active in the community, church and sports events. They eventually bought a farm northwest of town where they built a large home, grew a small forest grove on the barren prairie and enjoyed a collection of animals: dogs, cats, horses and cattle. As a side business, they ran a milking operation that many people claimed produced the best cream and butter in the area.

Being musical and not shy to MC events as well as perform comedy acts, she helped organize the July 1st Raymond Heritage Days Program for many years. She always loved to sing and could harmonize with the best of them knowing the words to every song she had ever heard even until her last days.

She was known as a Town Historian for the local museum and kept scrapbooks for many events and organizations that can still be found at the museum or treasured by her family. Mary served the town in many capacities: on the school board, swim club committee, Little League Association, various church callings and was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She created the museum’s Sports Hall of Fame with her brother Max Court and with some others helped restore the Raymond Ag Society alongside her husband Alan. She also assisted him with the operational duties of the Raymond Stampede for nearly 60 years, passionate about the ‘Mission for Tradition’ she carried on with her family.

Some of her many talents were: sewing, quilting, scrapbooking and cheering as she attended sports and activities of her children and grandchildren. She was always well dressed often wearing her own creations she had sewn and enjoyed making many quilts for her family. Her favourite pastime was hosting outdoor barbecues and dinners with family whom all enjoyed her wonderful cooking. One of her fondest memories was the trip to Europe  she took with her daughter Marilee and also enjoyed many vehicle trips with Alan across Canada and into the US. She always said she never needed to travel far for her favourite place in the world was sitting on the patio at the farm to watch the variety of birds perched in the trees  she proudly planted long ago.

After Mary and Alan both suffered from cancer leading to many extensive trips to Calgary for radiation treatments, they petitioned to the government gathering over 10,000 signatures with help from volunteers, to ensure that the Jack Ady Cancer Centre would be built in Lethbridge instead of another city, and we all benefit from their efforts today. With her and Alan always on the front lines of service in Raymond, it seemed well deserved when they received many accolades including Mary’s Citizen of the Year award in 1995 and 2004, as well as the 1987 Sports Hall of Fame Contribution award.  

Mary loved her family fiercely and is survived by her children Marilee (John) Halvorson, Nancy (Doug) Holt, Robert (Laureen) Heggie, Stephen (Dixie) Heggie and Ryan (Cori-Jo) Heggie

and her 19 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren. She is pre-deceased by her parents George and Alice Court, 25 siblings, husband Alan, son-in-law John Halvorson and great grandsons Shepard and Deacon Heggie.

Friends may meet the Family on Saturday, January 29, 2022 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Knight Street Chapel, 260 E 200 N, Raymond, Alberta. A private Funeral Service will follow with interment in the Temple Hill Cemetery. Live stream of the service will be available and a link will appear below this obituary 15 minutes before service start day of.

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